Woman gets suspended sentence for knife

A woman who pleaded guilty to possessing a kitchen knife in a public place was shown leniency in court yesterday.

Felicia Hassan, 38, of North Street, Pembroke told Magistrates' Court she had the knife in order to "cut-up fruit."

Senior Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court that on October 22, 2006 Police were called to a disturbance at the junction of Court and Dondonald Street. When they arrived, Police found Hasan shouting "stop f***ing following me" to an unknown man walking by.

They then saw Hassan throw a T-shirt onto the sidewalk. After recovering the shirt, Police discovered a six-inch kitchen knife hidden inside.

Hasan was arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed weapon in a public place.

She then said to officers: "I'm taking you all to court you hear that? So we can get down to the nitty gritty."

The court also heard that Hassan had previous convictions and was last arrested in August 2005 for wilful damage.

"You can't walk around with knives to peel fruit or to peel people," Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Hasan.

He sentenced her to 30 days in prison, suspended for two years, plus two years of probation on condition that Hasan be given psychiatric and rehabilitative treatment.

Man in court for cursing cops

A 20-year-old man who used offensive words to try and get the attention of Police Officers was in Magistrates' Court Monday.

Dereck Weeks pleaded guilty to using offensive words on March 6 this year.

Senior Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court at 2.12 a.m. that day Weeks was standing on Parliament Street outside Hamilton Police Station when he looked into the fenced area and shouted: "Shut the ****up."

In court yesterday, Weeks said: "I was drunk and the officer was telling me to leave. They arrested my brother and they were rude asking me to leave."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: "This offence carries a fine and six months imprisonment. I'm thinking seriously about giving you ten days in Westgate Correctional Facility. You don't look contrite and show no remorse."

It was Weeks' first offence for using offensive words, however, so Mr. Warner fined him $1,000 with three months default.

Washer, dryer stolenM

Someone stole a washer and dryer from a Paget residence over the weekend.

Police were called to the Tribe Road #5 home at 10.30 a.m. on Monday, the complainant said that sometime between Friday, March 16 and Monday, March 19 an unknown culprit broke into the apartment and stole a stackable washer/dryer.

Police are investigating the matter.