shouting in the street.

George Palmer was apprehended by officers after he was caught shouting obscenities in a Hamilton street.

Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Palmer was drunk and swore "she is a f**king bitch..take me away from this f**king bitch'' in Princess Street.

Palmer, 52, of Rings Court, Cobbs Hill, pleaded guilty to using offensive words in a public place.

He was fined $100.

BANNED DRIVER STOPPED CTS Banned driver stopped Driving his car when he was already off the road resulted in a lengthy ban for a motorist.

Ian DeSilva was stopped driving his Opel by officers who recognised him. A check revealed he was banned from the road until November.

In his defence he said he was fetching his car because the person who had it was drunk.

DeSilva, 24, of Kings Gate Lane, pleaded guilty to driving whilst disqualified.

Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said DeSilva was stopped on Elliott Street on March 30. He made no comment.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis fined him $400 and banned him from all vehicles until March, 2000.

In addition, DeSilva will face trial on a charge of unlawful assault on July 20.

NEWSPAPER THIEF FINED CTS Newspaper thief fined A homeless thief who stole copies of The Royal Gazette will have to pay $20 for three stolen newspapers.

Police officers saw 46-year-old Gilbert Webb take the papers from a stack outside the Twice Told Tales bookstore on Parliament Street in Hamilton last week.

They stopped the would-be thief as he made his way towards Church Street and discovered the newspapers inside his jacket.

Webb then reportedly told officers: "I took them from up the road. I'll pay for them if you want. I took them to read.'' Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Webb -- who had previous dishonesty convictions -- to pay the fine by Monday or face three days in prison.