hearing he would have to serve a custodial sentence for $7,000 in unpaid traffic fines.

Orlando Burch, of Smith Avenue, Warwick, told the court he did not have the money to pay his fines, which dated back to 1998.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner asked him if he was working and he said he was recently fired from his job for coming in late and other offences.

"You have shown no regard for this court,'' said Mr. Warner. "You could have come back and asked for more time to pay.'' When asked if he had another job, Burch said he recently got a job working as a bartender.

Mr. Warner told him he should not be bartending as it was obvious he had a drinking problem from his many driving while impaired convictions.

Burch said: "I don't have a drinking problem. I just like to drink.'' Mr. Warner again asked Burch why he had not come to court to ask for more time to pay his fines.

Burch said he did not know he had an alternative.

"As long as you take this attitude there is an alternative, the jail time,'' Mr. Warner said.

Burch broke down in tears and sobbed: "I can't go to jail. I'm supposed to go on a trip with the Regiment in June.'' Mr. Warner asked: "Why do you want to be in the Regiment?'' Burch replied: "Because I like the army and it keeps me out of trouble.'' He said he would be attending the corporal cadre with the Bermuda Regiment in June where he would receive his corporal training.

"I'm not trying to embarrass you, I'm trying to help you,'' Mr. Warner said.

"Nobody in life gives you anything.

"I don't like locking up people. I take no pleasure from this.'' Burch continued to cry and begged Mr. Warner not to send him to jail.

Mr. Warner said: "I'm going to give you one more chance.

"The only reason I'm not locking you up is because you show an interest in the Regiment and I think they can help you.'' Burch is to appear in court on July 10 having found himself a job. A payment plan to clear the outstanding fines will be worked out at that time.

POSSESSION OF COCAINE COSTS DEFENDANT $500 CTS Possession of cocaine costs defendant $500 A Pembroke man was yesterday fined $500 in Magistrates' Court after he pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine.

The court heard that Police saw Michael Paul Wade, 49, of Curving Avenue, talking to another man on January 24 and approached him.

Wade drove away but was stopped on Curving Avenue and began acting nervously and suspiciously when the officers asked him why he drove off.

He was placed under arrest for suspicion of drug possession and a subsequent search found he had two paper twists containing a crystal rock substance.

The substance was later found to be 0.37 grams of 60 percent pure cocaine.

EMPLOYEE ADMITS THEFTS FROM PETTY CASH CTS Employee admits thefts from petty cash A former Rooms-To-Go employee admitted stealing $81 over a period of two days from her employer when she appeared in Magistrates' Court late last week.

Angela Dianna Outerbridge, 31, of Fisherman's Hill, Hamilton Parish, was caught with the money after the manager found it missing from the business' petty cash.

The manager had recorded the serial numbers of the money in the petty cash and notified Police.

Police detectives found the cash in Outerbridge's possession and she admitted taking it. She said she intended to return the funds at a later date but forgot.

She told Police "I'm sorry'' when she was arrested and has since paid back the money.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered a social inquiry report and released Outerbridge on $300 bail. She will reappear in court on July 10 for sentencing.

FORMER PLP COMRADES FACE OFF IN LEGAL BATTLE CTS Former PLP comrades face off in legal battle A pair of former Progressive Labour Party Parliamentarians are embroiled in a legal battle believed to stem from services incorrectly rendered.

Walter Cuthbert Roberts, who sat for Sandy's South for several decades, this week filed a writ against lawyer Julian Hall who represented Hamilton Parish during the 1980's.

Details are sketchy but sources say Mr. Roberts has chosen to file against Mr.

Hall personally because of the presumed dissolution of his company, Hall and Associates.

Mr. Hall was declared bankrupt in January after failing to pay $1.6 million plus interest to a former client. His whereabouts are not known.

A creditors' meeting is due to be held this month and the Official Receiver is understood to be examining what to do next, which could include issuing a warrant for his arrest.

More Court coverage, Page 11