A man who skipped out on paying a $25 taxi bill ended up footing a far larger bill in Magistrates? Court yesterday.

Leon Andrew Robain, of Warwick, admitted that he failed to pay his taxi fare, $25.70, on February 6.

He told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that he planned to pay it back the next day but was arrested before he could do so.

?I thought I had the full amount in my pocket, but apparently I didn?t,? Robain said. Robain did have $1.45 which he gave to the driver.

?I told him I would pay it back and I have tried to but I haven?t been able to find him.? Robain told the court.

Mr. Warner said he doubted the man ever intended to repay the driver and slapped a hefty $500 fine on him.

The 44-year old had to pay the fine and compensate the driver by yesterday afternoon.

Thomas jailed for carrying machete

A man with a slew of violent convictions to his name was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison for carrying a machete in public.

Calvin Thomas Wilson plead guilty to having a machete on February 21 but said it wasn?t his fault.

Police were called to Happy Valley Road by a member of the public. The man said he saw Wilson slapping another man who was crouched on the ground repeatedly with a machete. The man told Police he was alerted to the fight because he heard someone screaming. Once Police arrived Wilson had already left the scene. Police apprehended him on Curving Avenue and the other man involved in the incident was not hurt.

?I am the one that was attacked with a machete,? Wilson explained to Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner. ?It was in my possession because I took it from him. That is how I got a cut on my hand, he hit me.?

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said the defendant did not explain why an independent witness said it was he who was attacking the other man with the machete.

Mr. Warner said he did not find the defendant?s explanation good enough and sentenced him to three years in prison. Under the bladed article legislation, which came into effect in July, anyone found guilty of possessing a machete must serve a minimum of three years.