A Pembroke man who pleaded guilty to charges of assault and possession of an offensive weapon was sentenced to two years probation in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Marcel Allison Rubaine, 25, admitted assaulting Ahisha Chane Trott on November 15, 2003 in Magistrates' Court last December.

At the time, Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves ordered Rubaine to undergo social and psychological reports.

But yesterday, Mr. Greaves told the court: "I do not agree with Probation's recommendation. You are a real danger to society in my opinion. I believe you should be in St. Brendan's forever, until you are no longer a threat."

Nevertheless, he sentenced Rubaine to two years probation and ordered him not to drink or do drugs, and to make sure that he takes his medication.

"Stop smoking and drinking the devil's soap. Take your medication and stay away from weapons.

"If I get a report from probation that I do not like, I'm going to lock you up."

Visitor fined for importing cannabis cigarette

An American citizen was fined $1,000 for importing a cannabis cigarette into the Island.

Georgia Elrod, 24, of Brooklyn, New York admitted to attempting to enter Bermuda with a cannabis cigarette taped under her shirt.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday Crown counsel Oonaugh Vaucrosson said Elrod flw into the Island last Sunday on a commercial flight from New Jersey. She had one checked bag and one carry on. Her luggage was ion scanned and proved positive.

Elrod told Customs officers that she had something and lifted her shirt to remove a cannabis cigarette taped to her with a band-aid.

The cannabis weighed 0.15 grams.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves asked Elrod if she had anything to say.

Elrod told the court: "I am very sorry. It will never happen again."

Teen road smash victim out of ICU

The teenager rushed to hospital following a two-vehicle smash on Tuesday was in a stable condition on a general ward last night.

The 16-year-old Bermuda High School for Girls student was initially placed in the intensive care unit of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital following the incident, which took place at the junction of Dundonald Street and Cedar Avenue in Pembroke.

The Smith's resident suffered serious facial and head injuries in the collision.

Police appeal for missing teenager

Police are looking for a missing teenage boy who was last seen on February 5.

Daron Lewis, 17, is described as 5 feet 5inches tall, weighing125 pounds, light skinned with light brown hair.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Daron Lewis is asked to call Det. Con. Rock at the Juvenile Domestic Crime Unit at 299-4518.

Community group Single Parents in Action fielded more than 30 calls after a recent Royal Gazette story about its work.

The organisation troubleshoots and helps people cope with diverse problems such as money management and abuse in the home.

Director Althea Iris said six callers offered help in mentoring while others called desperately seeking help after the article hit the streets last month.

She said: "For three days there were non-stop calls. We helped one woman in Somerset get her electricity turned back on while we kept power on for two single parents in the central parishes."

The organisation worked with Belco to negotiate repayment.

Christmas hampers from the organisation's food bank were also given to needy families.

Donations of cash and non-perishable foods are encouraged.

The group also needs mentors who can offer one-on-one help including baby sitting and financial and legal advice.

And it is working on getting charitable status and is planning a fundraising Gospel show at St. John's AME Church, Pembroke on March 20. Patrons are being sought.

If you want to help or you need help from Single Parents in Action call 292-3150.

MPs get back to work

MPs will debate two bills tomorrow when the House of Assembly resumes.

The Copyright Designs and Amendment Act will look at safeguarding intellectual property, including artistic rights.

Government Whip Ottiwell Simmons said he expected the debate may be quite lengthy when MPs begin to understand the issue.

And MPs will also debate the Bermuda Monetary Authority Amendment Act, which he described as a "housekeeping" measure dealing with business confidentiality and dealing with commercial crime such as money-laundering.

Homes broken into

Residents lost an undisclosed sum of cash after their Bulkhead Drive, Warwick apartment was broken into on Monday.

A Police spokesman said the incident happened between 7.15 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Also on Monday a thief got away with two gold rings and cash after breaking into a home on Cochrane Road, Somerset. The break-in happened between 1 a.m. and 4.45 p.m.

And a Warwick Lane apartment was ransacked by an intruder early on Tuesday morning.

Police said it was unclear whether or not anything was missing due to the condition of the home.