Probationary reports ordered for man who stole $7,000

A Devonshire man admitted stealing a chequebook and forging the cheques to obtain money.

Keith Godwin, of Ariel View Road, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to five counts of theft. He admitted to stealing a Bank of Bermuda chequebook, valued at $5, between April 20 and August 15 this year.

He also admitted stealing $7,000 between July 28 and August 8 from the Bank of Bermuda account of Raymond McDay.

The 47-year-old further admitted to using 17 personal cheques knowing that they were false, using the cheques to obtain money and dishonestly obtaining $7,000 between July 28 and September 12.

Because Godwin pleaded guilty to all the charges, the Crown withdrew counts two and four. Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered a Social Inquiry Report for Godwin and bailed him in the amount of $3,000 to appear back in court December 30.

Harbour Radio coordinates sailors' rescue

A man and woman were rescued from their yacht after it smashed into something and began to sink.

The pair, who had been en-route to St. Maarten, were unable to stop water flowing into their 50-feet Swedish sailing boat Vimana when it hit a submerged object 80 miles south of Bermuda at 11.20 a.m. yesterday.

They made a mayday call to Bermuda Radio, saying they expected their vessel to sink quickly, and climbed aboard a life raft.

At that stage, Bermuda Radio feared nearby ships would be unable to locate them before communication was lost because Vimana was not equipped with a radio satellite beacon to indicate its location. A request was made for US Coast Guard to send a C-130 aircraft.

However, Hong Kong-registered bulk carrier Medi Firenze, which was bound for New Orleans, picked up the distress signal and reached Vimana, which by now was barely floating, at 4.30 p.m.

The couple were transferred on to the Medi Firenze, which will arrive at New Orleans next Tuesday.

Conditional discharge for cursing

A construction worker appeared in court yesterday for using offensive words and gestures after he was accused of not paying for a bottle of beer.

Robin Simmons, 40, of Devonshire, pleaded guilty to the offence, which he said was the result of him being accused of stealing a bottle from Arnold's Express in Front Street. Principal Crown counsel Michael McColm said the incident took place on November 10 after a Police officer was called to the store to "assist staff with an unruly customer".

Mr. McColm said: "The officer noticed the defendant across the street attempting to get on a bus. She approached him but he shouted 'I didn't do anything (swear word) wrong'.

"Another officer arrived and he could be heard saying 'I just want to go home. Just bring me my (swear word) Elephant'."

Mr. McColm said Simmons, a mason, then gestured his hand towards a man walking past, with one finger extended.

"The officers arrested him for using offensive words and gestures, to which he replied: "No, I apologise."

Simmons told Magistrates' Court yesterday: "I apologise to the court. I was accused of stealing a bottle from Arnold's which I had paid for, which is what caused me to use my profanity. I just came across some person smiling and grinning at me because I was being arrested, so I stuck my finger up at him."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner gave Simmons six months' conditional discharge.

Man fined for cannabis possession

A man was fined $1,000 yesterday for possession of cannabis nearly three years ago.

Damien Martin, 24, of Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to the offence in Magistrates' Court. Principal Crown counsel Michael McColm said the defendant was arrested outside the Southampton Rangers Club on December 9, 2005. Police officers stopped to question him after noticing him acting suspiciously.

Mr. McColm said that on spotting the officers, Martin "quickly turned around and walked to the rear of the club" to avoid them.

"The officers approached him and observed he was acting evasively to questions, and his right hand was clenched," said Mr. McColm.

Martin was found to be holding a plastic twist which contained 3.57 grams of cannabis. The court heard he had a previous conviction for possession in 2006.

He told the court yesterday the cannabis was solely for personal use. "It was not to do with any intent to supply or anything like that. I apologise to the court," he said.

Driver arrested on suspicion of being impaired

A motorist was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving after his car crashed into a stone pillar.

The 26-year-old St. George's man was not injured in the collision at the junction of South Road and Southcourt Avenue, Paget, at about 2.50 a.m. yesterday. The car's front was damaged.

Sixty road accidents last week

Sixty road accidents took place last week, of which 18 resulted in people getting injured and 42 were damage only.

In the seven days up to Monday, there were also reports of 14 stolen vehicles, eight of which were in Pembroke.