Man accused of sexually abusing two schoolgirls

A 46-year-old man accused of sexually touching two schoolgirls will stand trial at Magistrates’ Court on October 8.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to three charges alleging he was in a position of trust or authority when he abused the under-16s between September 2005 and August last year.

Crown counsel Robert Welling told the court the defendant is the partner of the girls’ grandmother.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner bailed the man in the amount of $2,000 with one surety on condition he does not contact either of the complainants ahead of his trial.‘Excruciating’ toothache blamed for theft of painkillers, mouthwashA man who shoplifted painkillers and mouthwash from a store claimed he did so in desperation, because he was suffering from toothache.

Richard Dill, 38, was caught red-handed by staff at the Shopping Centre, Pembroke, on May 25.

Appearing before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner on Tuesday, he admitted to stealing one pack of Tylenol Extra Strength, one pack of Atasol Extra Strength and a bottle of Listerine with a total value of $16.38.

According to Crown counsel Maria Sofianos, Dill told Police after his arrest that the theft was “an act of desperation”.

The defendant, of Long Bay Lane, Somerset, said he worked on the Hustle Truck manual labour job scheme, but told Mr. Warner: “That day, my tooth was in such excruciating pain I was not able to work.”

He claimed both the hospital and a clinic told him they were unable to extract his tooth.

He further claimed that he had no money because he had to wait two weeks for his first Hustle Truck payment, and attempts to find a friend to buy him painkillers failed.

“Out of desperation, I took these items because I was feeling so much pain,” he told Mr. Warner. However, the magistrate told him he did not believe his story, which he dismissed as “foolishness”.

Dill also pleaded guilty to a second charge during his court appearance, of prowling on the property of Thambrasu Subramaniam in Rocklands Crescent, Warwick, on Friday while on bail for the theft offence.

Ms Sofianos told the court Dill was spotted by a neighbour hiding under a car on the property.

He ran off when Mr. Subramaniam, who did not know him, called the Police.

However, he was chased and caught by the neighbour and subsequently arrested.

Dill told the court he was hiding from someone to whom he owed money.

He also told Mr. Warner he is a drug addict, and believes he needs psychiatric help.

Ms Sofianos told the court Dill has previous convictions for dishonesty.

Mr. Warner ordered pre-sentence reports including a psychiatric evaluation and adjourned the case until August 21 when Dill will be sentenced.American claims smoking cannabis eased his anxietyAn American man caught with cannabis on a cruise ship claimed he smoked it to ward off anxiety.

David Byrne, of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, was arrested after a sniffer dog searching the Norwegian Majesty cruise ship in St. George’s on Wednesday alerted to his cabin.

Senior Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told Magistrates’ Court yesterday that Byrne answered the door to officers from the Combined Sea Port Enforcement Team, and admitted having cannabis in his pocket.

He produced a pouch from his pants containing loose cannabis and partially smoked cigarettes. Tests established the total amount of cannabis weighed 10.9 grams.

Byrne pleaded guilty to importing the drug into Bermuda at his court appearance yesterday telling Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner: “I suffer anxiety and depression.

“I’ve been prescribed prescriptions from my doctor (but) that was my only recourse.”

Mr. Warner responded: “I suffer anxiety every morning!” in an apparent reference to the number of US tourists that come before his court each cruise ship season on similar charges. He fined Byrne $1,500.Powerful Police spotlight reveals man trying to dispose of cannabisA man was caught in possession of cannabis after the beam of a powerful Police spotlight revealed him attempting to dispose of the drug, Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.

Crown counsel Maria Sofianos said Aaron Smith rode his motorcycle past Police who had stopped another motorcycle on Mission Lane in Pembroke at 10.45 p.m. on February 9.

Smith stopped five to seven metres from the Police car, at which point an officer used what Ms Sofianos described as a very powerful spotlight to illuminate the area.

The 40-year-old defendant, from Mission Lane, was caught apparently concealing something behind his back.

He then dropped a plastic twist of plant material to the ground. He was arrested, and Police then discovered a home-made cigarette in the pocket of his pants.

Tests showed the twist and cigarette to contain 1.05 grams of cannabis, said the prosecutor.

Smith, who has previous convictions for drug possession, admitted the offence when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner, and apologised for his actions.

Mr. Warner fined him $1,000, with three months behind bars as the punishment if he fails to pay.Sniffer dog alerted Customs to cannabis importation at AirportAn American national has been fined $1,500 for importing cannabis into Bermuda.

Ronnie Mrantz was caught at LF Wade International Airport on Sunday morning after arriving on a flight from Newark, New Jersey.

Addressing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, Crown counsel Robert Welling said Mrantz, of East Madison Avenue, Cresskill, New Jersey, had a sniffer dog alert to his groin area as he was passing through the Airport.

The 53-year-old defendant admitted to a Customs Officer that he had “a little bit of weed,” and produced a plastic bag containing 1.9 grams of the drug, claiming it was to treat his back pain.

Mrantz was arrested, and pleaded guilty to one count of drug importation during his court appearance, telling Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner: “I wish to apologise to the court and to the Bermudian people.”

Mr. Warner ordered that he must serve a three month prison sentence if he does not pay his fine.Public alert the Police after biker is seen weaving across roadConcerned members of the public called the Police after they spotted a man who had been drinking all day weaving across the road on his motorcycle.

Victor Paris was arrested for impaired driving after the incident on Middle Road in Paget on June 22, admitting the offence when he appeared before Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

According to Crown counsel Maria Sofianos, members of the public spotted Paris, 52, swerving from side to side and repeatedly crossing the central line of the road.

When Police arrived at the scene, they asked the defendant of Roberts Avenue, Devonshire, whether he had been drinking.

According to Ms Sofianos, he replied, “I’ve been drinking all day”.

Paris, who was unsteady on his feet, added: “Yes, I’ve had a few drinks but I can still drive.”

Tests after his arrest showed him to be almost three times over the drink-drive limit, with 233 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood when the limit is 80 milligrams.

Paris told the court: “I’m sorry that it happened. It was my first time and will be the last time.”

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined him $1,000, and banned him from driving for a year, with a three-month sentence as the punishment for failure to pay.Motorcyclist fined and ordered off road for being over the limitA motorcycle rider caught at more than two-and-a-half times the drink drive limit has been fined $1,000 and banned from driving for a year.

Valter Linhares, 36, a Portuguese national from North Shore Road, Pembroke, was pulled over by Police on Pitts Bay Road on July 1 after they saw him swerving back and forth and nearly colliding with a car. He pleaded guilty to impaired driving at Magistrates’ Court, with Crown counsel Robert Welling telling the court that construction worker Linhares replied “No speak English” when asked to give a breath sample.

He went on to test positive for 207 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, when the legal limit is 80 milligrams.