An American caught with cocaine and cannabis in his cruise-ship cabin has been handed $5,125 in fines. Kevin Broadwater, 47, was collared during a drugs bust on the Zenith cruise ship after it docked in Hamilton on Monday.

Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman told Magistrate's Court yesterday Police visited the ship, which had sailed from New Jersey, along with a dog which alerted them to the defendant's cabin.

When the cabin was searched, the officers discovered 5.72 grams of cocaine, and 11.28 grams of cannabis with an estimated total value of $1175. Broadwater ? who told the court he is a salesman of collectable dolls ? was in the cabin when the Police arrived. Edward King said of his client: "He says he's not a habitual drug abuser but this was his anniversary trip and he thought that he would experiment so that he could better enjoy his anniversary with his wife."

Broadwater, of Carol Street, Lakewood, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to importing cocaine into Bermuda and importing cannabis to the Island. He also admitted possessing cocaine with intent to supply and possessing a plastic straw for the misuse of a controlled drug but pleaded not guilty to possessing cannabis, and the prosecution offered no evidence on this count.

Senior magistrate Archibald Warner told Broadwater that he was considering fining him $500,000 to which the defendant replied: "I cannot pay that. I apologise for not realising there was no tolerant law in this country."

Magistrate Warner warned Broadwater: "We want you tourists to come and enjoy yourselves but don't bring drugs into this country ? that's a lesson that must be learned."

A man caught drink-driving while more than double the legal alcohol limit has been fined and banned from the road.

Michael O'Neal Scott, 28, was spotted by officers who were on patrol in Front Street, Pembroke, at 2.14 a.m. on August 30.

Crown Counsel Shakira Dill told Magistrates' Court that Scott came to the notice of the police for driving at what seemed to be an excessive speed. When he was stopped and spoken to about his manner of driving, his eyes were red and glazed, he was unsteady on his feet and smelled of liquor, added Miss Dill.

The defendant told officers that he had consumed one alcoholic beverage earlier. A test after his arrest revealed 192 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood ? when the legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Scott, of Pearman's Hill, Warwick, pleaded guilty to driving while impaired by alcohol, and Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined him $1000 in addition to a 12 month disqualification.

A man caught drinking beer in the street has been handed a conditional discharge by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Fredrick Gordon, 49, was found by a police officer consuming Elephant Beer on a bench in front of City Hall at Church Street, Hamilton, on August 8. Crown Counsel Shakira Dill told Magistrates' Court that Gordon put the green bottle he was holding in his pocket when he came to the notice of the Police. After being cautioned, he replied: "I got caught by the rookie!"

At Hamilton Police Station, the contents of the bottle were analysed, and found to contain 7.1 percent alcohol, added Miss Dill. Gordon, of the Salvation Army hostel in Marsh Lane, Pembroke pleaded guilty to drinking intoxicating liquor, and duty counsel Llewellyn Peniston said: "We have been experiencing some rather humid temperatures, and all of us may well have needed a bit of libation. It was beer, but he did his best to conceal it and not to offend the public, by putting it in his pocket."

Police have released details of cars stolen during a recent spate of vehicle crime, in a bid to reunite them with their owners.

Officers say that there has been an increase in the number of car thefts on the island in the past two to three weeks, and are keen to trace the following vehicles: A white Toyota Yaris, license number 03106, a grey Mazda 323, license 29402, a grey Subaru Impreza station wagon, license 38294, a silver/grey Opel Astra, license 32583, and a white Subaru J10, license 09611.

Anyone with information about these vehicles should contact the Vehicle Crime Unit on 295?0011.

A teenager who said he had the word "stupid" shaved into his hair by a barber was found not guilty after he said he acted in self defence during a fight.

Giovanni Carmichael, 17, of Whaling Hill, Southampton was charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Jermaine Nesbitt, 33, on December 6, 2004.

On the opening day of Mr. Carmichael's Supreme Court trial on Tuesday, the defendant said he was provoked into attacking Mr. Nesbitt following an argument about his haircut.

Carmichael claimed that he had had his hair cut by Mr. Nesbitt the day before the attack. At a party later that evening, the defendant's sister pointed out to him that the word "stupid" had been shaved into his hair.

Mr. Carmichael admitted that he later approached Mr. Nesbitt and punched him ? but only after the complainant had lashed out first. Mr. Nesbitt received a broken jaw in the assault.

Defence lawyer Larry Scott argued that there was a "tussle" between the two, where Mr. Nesbitt had come out for the worse.

But when called to the stand, Mr. Nesbitt denied either that he had shaved the insult into Mr. Carmichael's hair or that he tried to punch the teenager.

He testified that Mr. Carmichael simply attacked him from behind and was not provoked. Crown counsel Graveney Banister argued that "the force of the attack was disproportionate to the provocation".

The jury unanimously found Mr. Carmichael not guilty of intent to commit GBH, after nearly two hours of deliberations. Mr. Carmichael's mother broke out into spontaneous applause when the verdict was announced, singing: "Happy Birthday to me."

The civil case between Gavin Wilson and First Bermuda Securities Limited, FBS Nominees Limited, Lynda Milligan-Whyte, Joseph Taussig and Jeffrey Conyers has been adjourned.

Justice Geoffrey Bell did not set a replacement trial date as the matter will have to be re-listed with the Registrar but is believed a new trial will be set in the during the next three months, possibly in November.

A man who admitted attempting to break and enter a Pembroke home had his court case adjourned so that reports can be prepared on him. Maurice Burrows, 41, tried to get into the Sharon Lane home of Gregory Hendrick in the early hours of the morning, Magistrate's Court heard yesterday.

Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman said the complainant had been asleep when he was woken by a noise. When he investigated, he found that glass in a rear door to his property had been broken.

He then saw the defendant outside, with his hands extended inside the apartment in an attempt to unlock the door.

Burrows made off after Mr. Hendrick spoke to him, but was caught by he police shortly after 4.15 a.m., and admitted that he was the culprit and that he was sorry, said Mr. Blackman.

Burrows, was remanded into custody at Westgate by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, who ordered social inquiry and psychiatric reports to be prepared. The case is listed to come back to court on October 6, for mention.

A practical joker has apologised to and to his best friend for falsely using his name when speaking to a reporter about a court case concerning a post woman who had been bitten by his dog.

Geoffrey Redmond used the name of friend Jake Hawkins after being dealt with at the Magistrates' Court for allowing his dog to bite a post woman delivering to his home in May.

"We are always playing practical jokes on one another and I owed him one," said Mr. Redmond. "He's a best friend and we are always trying to get each other. I've already called and apologised to him and we're going out for lunch. I'm sorry if it has caused a problem."

Mr. Hawkins said "a joke is a joke" but since the story appeared he has been trying to explain to postal workers that they don't have to worry about coming to his property with mail. also extends an apology to Mr. Hawkins and is happy to clarify that the dog biting incident occurred at Mr. Redmond's property and had nothing to do with Mr. Hawkins.

A man found in possession of heroin and cannabis intended for supply after a Police chase in Hamilton has been fined and handed a suspended jail sentence.

Magistrates' Court heard yesterday how officers were on patrol on Princess Street on March 21 when they saw a group of people. Anderson, 43, of no fixed abode, was clutching a beer bottle and a small bag with a clear glass bottle in it, said Crown Counsel Anthony Blackman.

The group of suspects ran away from the Police, but the officers caught up with Anderson at the junction between Princess Street and Elliott Street.

There was a struggle, and both the defendant and the police officers fell to the ground. After Anderson was arrested and searched, he was found to have drugs and drug equipment on him, added Mr. Blackman.

He also admitted resisting Sgt. Alex Rollin during his arrest. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner handed Anderson a total of $3,400 in fines plus a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.