Scott Clay was outside of Somerset Bridge Recreation Club on December 9 last year when he was arrested by narcotics officers working on a tip-off.

Clay, a first-time offender from Paynter Lane, Sandys, appeared nervous and walked round to the side of the building where a group of young men were standing when the Police appeared, said Crown Counsel Sade Subair.

Officers searched him and found a plastic bag containing 0.69 grams of cannabis.

Ms Subair told Magistrate Archibald Ward that Clay told Police he was wearing old clothes because he was painting and that the plant material had been there for some time.

Clay, 35, pleaded with Mr. Warner to keep his name out of the newspapers because he could lose his job.

"I accept all responsibility for what has happened, but I would like to appeal to the court that my name not be published in the paper because I'm a senior fund accountant and I administer pension funds,'' he said.

"I have a mortgage, I pay school fees and this would endanger the family income and I could possibly lose my job.'' But Mr. Warner told him the court had no powers to stop newspapers publishing names of defendants.

"This is an open court and justice demands that this is an open court and justice is done for everyone to see. The court doesn't own the newspapers,'' said Mr. Warner.

He told Clay the fine should have been $300 because it is such a small amount but because it is in a penalty zone -- near the Recreation Club -- there was an extra $1,000 fine.

Clay was also told to pay a $210 speeding fine that was outstanding.

GARDENER ESCAPES FINE CTS Gardener escapes fine A landscape gardener caught speeding and driving while disqualified escaped a jail sentence yesterday after Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner gave him one last chance.

Mark Aubrey, 32, was banned from the roads for a year for drink driving last July, but was stopped by Police in November while speeding.

Mr. Warner warned Aubrey, of Mayflower Court, Devonshire, that he would have to activate a suspended three month prison sentence because Aubrey had given him no plausible excuse for defying the driving ban.

Mr. Warner told him: "You don't pay fines imposed on you, you don't obey the court when you are disqualified, and you disregard the leniency shown by the court on you in giving you a suspended sentence.

"You have brought this on yourself. You guys think its a joke. If you don't respect these courts in terms of doing what they say, you'll come to fear them.'' Aubrey replied: "I can assure you it won't happen again.'' Mr. Warner fined Aubrey $300 for speeding, $1,000 for driving while disqualified, and increased the suspended sentence to six months, applicable for two years.

"You've now had all the options of the court. When you come back again, you know what you've got waiting for you.'' added Mr. Warner.