A man was fined $300 in Magistrates' Court for having heroin within 300 metres of the Beyond This Alternative School, on St. Monica's Road. Wendell K. Tucker of Patience Lane in Sandy's admitted to his second offence of having a controlled drug inside an increased penalty zone.

"I'm a heroin addict, but I was just walking through the area," the 24-year-old said to Acting Senior Magistrate William Francis on Wednesday.

On March 16, Tucker was searched under the misuse of drugs act when he was spotted acting suspiciously by Police inside the penalty zone around the school. Police found 0.03 grams of heroin in silver foil wrapped in a five dollar bill inside a red packet of Marlboro cigarettes in Tucker's clothing.

The court heard that in February he was previously convicted of having cocaine inside an increased penalty zone. Mr. Francis gave Tucker until July 18 to pay the $300 fine for his second similiar offence.

A man admitted in Magistrates' Court he had been driving while impaired when he was involved in an accident that same night. Donald Bacardi was taken to Hospital for minor treatment and release after an accident on Crow Lane on June 20. The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to the charge of impaired driving and was fined $1,000 and lost his license for all vehicles for 12 months under Acting Senior Magistrate William Francis.

A man with a drinking problem appeared in Magistrates' Court and admitted shoplifting alcohol for the third time. Michael W. Minors of Cove Valley Lane in St. George's arrived in court last week with his sister, who said the 59-year-old was facing his drinking problem: "He's in the Focus Programme and Alcoholics Anonymous, and he's trying to do better, I stand by him on that," she said.

On June 26, Minors was in the Somer's Supermarket in St. George's when he put a $21.60 bottle of Cockspur rum in his bag and left the shop. He was stopped by shop attendants outside and Police were called to the scene. After being asked if he had stolen the bottle he said to Police, "yeah, I did. Let's get this over with."

He had previously been convicted of taking a bottle of Special Reserve on August 15 of 2000 and recieved a conditional discharge, but had spent three months in jail for doing the same on September 19 of 2000. Acting Senior Magistrate William Francis gave him three month prison sentence suspended for 18 months good behavior in which to "go ahead and think about it".

A MarketPlace cashier was convicted of stealing from her own workplace in Magistrates' Court, last week. Eighteen-year-old Davida O'Brian of Cross Lane in Pembroke was witnessed taking a black Timex clock off of the shelf and putting it in her bag by the Assistant Manager of the Victoria Street MarketPlace. O'Brian had no previous convictions but came to court yesterday admitting the theft. Acting Senior Magistrate William Francis gave the woman an absolute discharge. "The clock was given back. Besides, it was a Timex," said Crown Counsel Wayne Caines.

Two men who admitted failing to attend Regiment duty appeared in Magistrates' Court on Wednesday and received suspended prison sentences. John Paul Samuels of Knapton Hill in Smith's Parish and Jason Volny-Anderson of Spanish Point were said by Captain Lauren Smith, Adjutant, to have skipped Regiment duty on nine and 21 different occasions.

"Regiment duty requires attendance one day per week, per month. If someone does not appear, Regiment Police will find their addresses and information to contact them. Usually this happens after one miss, and after four they are put on the Long Term Absentee list. Sometimes they find out we are looking for them and avoid us," he said in an interview.

Acting Senior Magistrate William Francis heard from the court that 22-year-old Samuels had 30 months left to do his service, and 25-year-old Volny-Anderson had 36 months remaining before he too became ineligible for Regiment duty. He suspended Samuel's three month prison sentence for two years so he could complete his service. Volny-Anderson's three month prison sentence was suspended for three years so he could also attend the Regiment within that time.