$37,000 raised for Kathmandu Kids Club and Kiwoko hospital in Uganda

More than $37,000 was raised for children in need in Nepal and Uganda during the Kathmandu Kids Club and the ISIS Foundation’s recent charity auction, ‘A Little Help, A Little Hope’.

Of that sum, the Kathmandu Kids Club — formed last year to specifically raise funds to support The ISIS Foundation’s work in Nepal — raised over $20,000 which will go directly to the ISIS children’s homes in Kathmandu. ISIS provides full-time residential care for 136 children who have been internally displaced due to war, as well as providing health services to more than 6,000 locals who would otherwise not receive any healthcare at all.

The remaining approximately $17,000 — proceeds from the auction and sale of Ugandan goods — will go directly to ISIS Foundation projects in Uganda, which include support for a neonatal intensive care unit at Kiwoko Hospital. The funds will enable a container full of urgently needed supplies to be shipped from the US to Kiwoko.

The auction’s title was inspired by NBA legend Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson’s quote: “All a kid needs is a little help, a little hope and someone who believes in them.”

Prankster fined after sneaking onto cruise ship

A gambling Warwick man who bet $1 that he could sneak onto a cruise ship docked in Hamilton — won his prize — and then spent 32 hours in jail.

At Magistrates’ Court, Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court that Ronald Hook, 46, of Spice Hill Road, made the wager with friends on May 23, while walking along Front Street at around 11 p.m.

After betting he could board the Azamara Journey without a ticket — and make it to the top floor — he hopped a fence at the Number Six dock and entered through a staff doorway. He made his way up to one of the ship’s balconies where he waved down at on-looking friends. However, suspicious crew spotted him and asked him to produce his credentials and he told them his wife was waiting outside with his ticket.

When staff did not buy the story, they called security after Hook admitted: “Look, I’m a Bermudian citizen and it’s just a joke.”

Police were called and Hook was arrested for boarding the vessel without the permission of the Director of Marine and Ports. He asked officers “are the handcuffs really necessary?” as they lead him away to the Hamilton Police Station.

“It was just a joke,” he said. Hook told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner he was drunk at the time, saying: “I’m very sorry. I did something very silly, had some beers and I’ve spent 32 hours in jail.”

“How much was the bet?” asked Mr. Warner — “About $1,” he replied. Mr. Warner fined him $200 or 20 days default.

Sentencing delayed for cursing cops

A 19-year-old Pembroke man admitted last week in Magistrates’ Court to charges of assaulting a Police officer and using offensive words.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court that Stefen Durrant was seen talking loudly at Par-la-Ville Park by Police on May 23, when they responded to a report of several youths causing a disturbance.

When approached, Durrant, of Fenton’s Drive, told officers: “F**k the Police, you can’t do anything to me!”

After he was warned about his language, he continued cursing them and was placed under arrest. He continued swearing at Police before pushing P.c. James Celestine in the chest.

In court, Durrant said he did not remember the incident, as he was drunk at the time.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner informed him that being drunk is not an acceptable excuse.

He remanded him into custody until May 30, when he will reappear for another matter. $400 fine for cursing out cops

An angry Warwick woman was invited back into a Police Station after cursing repeatedly at officers, Magistrates’ Court heard.

Crown counsel Robert Welling told the court Tiffany Smith, 32, of 12 Random Lane, told officers at the Hamilton Police Station: “F**k you! F**k you! You can’t stop me from cursing. You’re not even from Bermuda, go the f**k home!”

Smith used the words while being released for another matter at around 1 a.m. on May 26. She was warned about her language, before she continued shouting obscenities at them while walking along Parliament Street, before she was arrested for using offensive words in public.

When Acting Magistrate Justin Williams asked Smith to explain herself, she replied: “I went outside and they (Police) man-handled me, threw me up against the wall and that’s why I used the language.”

It was also revealed Smith failed to show in court on May 10, for a charge of driving a car without third-party insurance — which she also admitted. Mr. Williams fined her $400 for the offensive words and $1,000 for not having insurance.

Cash, jewellery stolen from tourists

Tourists staying at a Paget guest property had a quantity of cash and jewellery stolen from their cottage.

The visitors told Police at 9.30 a.m., that sometime between 2.30 a.m. and 7.30 a.m. on Friday morning someone entered their cottage and stole their property.

Also on Friday, complainants of a South Road, Paget, home reported leaving their apartment at 10.50 p.m. on Thursday to return 15 minutes later to find an unknown man outside their apartment.

When the man saw the couple return, he ran away, however, the complainants later found that someone had entered their home and stolen a quantity of cash. Inquiries into both incidents are underway.

Man denies damaging bar counter-top

A Pembroke man appeared in Magistrates’ Court yesterday, accused of using a machete to smash a counter-top at a Court Street bar.

Thomas Minors, 53, of Glebe Road, pleaded not guilty to having an offensive weapon in a public place and causing wilful and unlawful damage on May 26, at the Spinning Wheel night-club.

Minors, who is being represented by lawyer Rick Woolridge, will stand trial at Magistrates’ Court on June 15 and was remanded into custody by Acting Magistrate Justin Williams.

However, Minors pleaded guilty to having care and control over a motor vehicle while impaired on Court Street and refusing to give Police a breath sample. Mr. Williams fined him $1,000 relating to the driving charges.