Man tried to cash stolen cheque

A Southampton man with a long criminal record was sentenced to three years probation in Magistrates' Court for trying to cash a stolen cheque.

Ryan Norris Furbert, 39, pleaded guilty to receiving the $826 cheque between January 15 and 18.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Furbert attempted to cash the cheque at Bermuda Financial Network in Hamilton, saying that he was helping a sick friend. When staff became suspicious he fled the building and was arrested on January 25.

Furbert will be required to attend a drug treatment programme.

“Just because you got probation does not mean you got off scot-free,” Mr. Warner said.

Soldier locked up for defying call-up duties

A Bermuda Regiment soldier will spend the next six months behind bars after defying his call-up duties.

Derek Hart, 25, of Morris Lane, Pembroke, pleaded guilty this week to failing to turn up for Regimental duties between June 30 and November 18 last year.

This was his second conviction for the same offence after he was given a suspended sentence last May for failing to report for duty on 12 occasions. Hart was called up for duty on January 9, 2002.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Hart continued to play truant during his suspension period.

When asked if he had anything to say, Hart simply replied: “No comment”.

Mr. Warner told Hart that his behaviour and conduct left a lot to be desired and added another three months to existing three month suspended sentence. When released from prison, Hart will still have 26 months of duty left in the Regiment.

On another matter Hart was asked about an outstanding speeding fine for $500 from February, 2003, which he had not paid.

“Don't know about that one,” Hart replied.

“Well, it is your name and address on the ticket,” Mr. Warner said.

He added an additional 50 days to run concurrently with the six month prison sentence already handed down to Hart.

New Year's Eve reveller held up traffic

A New Year's Eve reveller this week admitted holding up traffic by drinking a bottle of alcohol in the middle of the road.

Dion Lavaughn Burgess, 39, of Cedar Park Road, Devonshire, changed his plea in Magistrates' Court to “guilty with an explanation” for being drunk and incapable in St. George's.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner asked Burgess: “How would you know if you were drunk and incapable? What is your defence?”

Burgess said he could not remember committing the crime.

“But that is the essence of being drunk and incapable,” Mr. Warner said. Burgess said he was at his mother's home on New Year's Eve and “had a bit too much to drink. I don't remember nothing else”.

Mr. Warner gave Burgess a conditional discharge of 12 months on the condition that he did not get drunk and incapable again.

Burgess also pleaded not guilty to drinking in Somers Wharf, St. George's, and wilfully damaging two door handles on a Police vehicle in Sandys on February 17, 2004.

Burgess was released on $800 bail to appear for trial on February 22.

The Crown counsel was Graveney Bannister.

Sandys man denies stealing

A Sandys man this week denied stealing from Telford Industries and Arnold's Supermarket.

A visibly agitated Steven Proctor, 55, of Rockywold Drive, was told to calm down by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner in Magistrates' Court before pleading not guilty to stealing two Ikea lights and two beef pies and drinks from Arnold's Supermarket on January 26.

Proctor was granted bail of $1,000 with one surety and was ordered to re-appear in court on April 8.

Homeless man squatted at Newstead

A homeless man was nearly given accommodation in prison for squatting at the old Newstead Hotel for two weeks.

Norton J. Thomas, 53, originally from Moongate Lane, Ord Road, Paget, told Magistrates' Court this week that his apartment had been broken into, his clothes stolen and he had “no place to stay”. He pleaded guilty to trespassing.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister said Police found Thomas at the hotel on Tuesday evening. Thomas told them he was aware of a “no trespassing” sign. The hotel is currently under construction and Duty counsel Larry Scott called it “seriously demolished”.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner gave Thomas a conditional discharge for 12 months, provided he did not re-offend for a year.

“Let me tell you now, you won't squat without express permission, regardless of your personal conditions. If you do it again and come back to the courts I will find you a place to live - Westgate!”

Charged with masturbating

A Hamilton Parish man denied masturbating at the W.J.R. Joell Tennis Stadium last month, telling Magistrates' Court that the only thing he was guilty of was “using the bathroom in public”.

Andre Victor Eugene Castle, 22, of North Church Lane, pleaded not guilty to exposing his genitals in a public place and was released on $800 bail.

He will re-appear in court on April 7.