Man stabs girlfriend in front of children

A man who stabbed his girlfriend in front of their twin children admitted in Magistrates' Court yesterday that he had a drug problem. Tio Weeks, 28, of Middle Town Road, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and using an offensive weapon on Takiana Michelle Swan on March 13.

The court heard how Ms Swan asked Weeks to watch their two sons in the evening while she drove a friend home. When he thought she was taking too long to leave, he stormed out of the house shouting profanities, telling her: “You better shut up and stop talking all your stupidness before I stab you.”

Weeks then stabbed Ms Swan in the left bicep giving her a three quarter inch wound. Police arrived at the couple's Pembroke home and found that Weeks had barricaded himself in with his two sons. But he eventually gave himself up after he had trouble breathing.

When Magistrate Carlisle Greaves asked Weeks if he had anything to say to the court he admitted the root of his problems was drugs and that he had no recollection of the incident.

“I know I have to stop using drugs, I've been in and out this court. I'm sorry for doing what I did to Ms Swan,” he said.

Mr. Greaves said he was shocked to hear that the defendant had committed such an offence in front of his two young children.

“I don't see why you should do this in front of your children. I wish I had the power to give you a sentence greater than what I have the power to do,” he said.

Weeks was sentenced to 12 months in Westgate for wounding Ms Swan and six months for using a weapon, to run concurrently. Weeks has previous convictions for unlawful wounding and other violent offences.

Beggar finds old habits die hard

Well-known beggar Keith Peniston was sentenced to jail yesterday after he was found guilty of shouting offensive words at a woman who refused to give him any money.

And when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday Peniston showed little remorse for his bad habit - by begging for a cigarette from another defendant.

The court heard that on Saturday Peniston approached a woman sitting in a parked car with a young child on Queen Street. He asked the woman if she had any change and, when she failed to find any, he shouted: “F*** you, I am f***king sick of you guys.”

Mr. Greaves told Peniston that he was bothering everyone on the streets of Hamilton and that he was “all over everyone like dirty skin, making them feel miserable”.

“You don't think people are tired of you? You're harassing everyone, including me,” Mr. Greaves continued.

When asked if he had anything to say to the court Peniston, 47, said the Police didn't like him and had roughed him up.

Greaves sentenced Peniston, who is homeless to spend an unspecified amount of time in Westgate. “We need to take a rest from you, I don't want to lock you up but we need a rest,” he told Peniston, who has previous convictions of a similar nature.

Drug dealers warned of heavy fines

People who attempt to deal drugs in increased penalty zones such as sports clubs will be slapped with a hefty fine, as demonstrated in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Magistrate Carlisle Greaves fined Che Pettyman, 34, of Crisson Avenue, Pembroke $2,000 for possessing 0.03 grams of cocaine at the Southampton Rangers Club on May 16, 2003.

When Police Officers on patrol stopped at the club to conduct a liquor license check they noticed Pettyman standing at the entrance of the club acting in a nervous manner. Officers searched him and found a white rock-like substance - later identified as cocaine - in the rim of his cap. Pettyman told officers he had found the hat on his job that day.

Pettyman pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $1,000 for possession of the drug and a further $1,000 for being in an increased penalty zone.