Homeless man imprisoned for three years for having a knife

A homeless man was jailed for having a bladed article in his possession. Kenneth Steede was found out after he attempted to steal food from Arnold's Express.

The court heard from Crown counsel Larissa Burgess that on Wednesday, while he was inside of the store, a passer-by noticed Steede placing articles in his knapsack and alerted a staff member.

On his way out, Steede was stopped by the manager who searched his bag and found soda, cookies, an ice cream bar, and baked goods, which had been stuffed inside of the knapsack.

When he was questioned by the manager and the 42-year-old said: "I was hungry."

A black handled bladed knife was also found in the bag. Steede told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that he had the blade in his bag for protection. He said: "I would never stick anyone with it, but if they come up to me I will wave it in their face to scare them off."

Steede, who is of no fixed abode, with no previous convictions told the court: "I'm sorry, I'm disabled and I don't get too much money. I only get $300 a month."

He also said that he has gone to Bermuda Housing Cooperation on several occasions but has not received any assistance in finding housing. He told Mr. Warner that his arm is paralysed from a bike accident from 20 years ago and that he has had AIDS for just over 20 years.

Mr. Warner told Steede that the laws of the land are in place to protect people, so that they will not be able to carry around weapons.

He said that despite his medical and physical disability he has broken the law and sentenced him to a total of three years and 10 days for his offences.

Tourist fined for having cannabis

A Portuguese national pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday for having cannabis on a flight into Bermuda.

The court heard from Crown counsel Larrissa Burgess that on July 25, Aderito Pacheco, who was entering the Island from Toronto, Canada, was questioned while in the customs line.

When Pacheco was being searched an officer noticed a strange object protruding from a container of Nivea Cream. The officer inspected the object and found a small plastic bag. When asked what the item was Pacheco said: "Weed, I was hiding it from my father and I forgot to take it out."

He was arrested and taken to the Police Station and the substance was tested and found to be 0.46 grams of cannabis. Pacheco was fined $1500.

Wheelchair prowler cautioned

A 29-year-old man in a wheelchair received a Police caution after being caught looking through the windows of a home near King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The resident apprehended the offender after spotting him on his property in Astwood Road, Paget, shortly before 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday. He was cautioned and returned to the hospital.

No complaint laid in attempted theft

A man tried but failed to steal a pair of swimming trunks and two T-shirts from a store.

The offender handed over the clothes after he was confronted by staff at the shop in Kings Square, St. George's, shortly before 5 p.m. yesterday. No formal complaint was made.