Aggressive beggar avoids jail

A beggar who shoved a broken bottle into the face of a passer-by who refused to give him money narrowly avoided a nine-month jail sentence yesterday.

Cannoth William Roberts, 29, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to unlawfully wounding Antoine Dill in Pembroke on September 3, .

Roberts also admitted to possessing an offensive weapon - a broken beer bottle - at the same date and time.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said Mr. Dill had left a social club on Elliott Street when Roberts asked him to "help him out".

She said Roberts was bleeding from the right side of his head and was very angry.

When Mr. Dill refused to give Roberts any money, Roberts broke a bottle and pushed it into Mr. Dill's face - leaving a gash which required four stitches to heal, she said.

Roberts had a history of violent crime, she said.

For unlawfully wounding Mr. Dill, Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo sentenced Roberts to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and fined him $500.

For possessing an offensive weapon, he received a three month sentence, also suspended for 12 months, and a $250 fine.

Bar robbed

A robber made off with three bags of cash from the Southampton Arms bar on Thursday night after threatening an employee.

The culprit entered the bar and demanded money from a 61-year-old man working in the establishment.

The victim, a Southampton man who was not injured in the incident, said he was inside the bar at 11.30 p.m. preparing for the next day when the thief arrived.

The robber removed the three bank bags and escaped on foot in the direction of the Railway Trail. The exact value of the money taken was not disclosed.

The suspect is described as a dark-skinned male, approximately 5-feet-6-inches to 5-feet-8-inches in height, of medium build, clean shaven and with a short afro.

He was wearing an army green camouflage T-shirt with blue jean shorts and is believed to be in his 30s. Police are appealing for any witnesses to this incident or anyone with any information to contact the Somerset Criminal Investigation Unit on 234-1010.

Recycling plant approved by DAB

The Development Applications Board (DAB) has approved the construction of a new Government recycling plant at Bailey's Bay.

The DAB approved the construction of a new material recovery facility and associated amenity/control building and external works at 18 Quarry Road in Hamilton Parish.

"The recycling plant is a step in the right direction of serving the needs of the people," Director of the Department of Communication and Information Beverle Lottimore said.

A building permit is necessary before the development can commence and in the event a new cave is discovered during construction, all work must cease and an engineering report provided to the DAB to show the cave will be protected."

The amenity building's roof must also be painted white in order to be in accordance with the "Bermuda image".

In March, Works and Engineering staff had already started clearing the site and said the project was expected to be completed by May, 2006.

Government has been discussing plans to close down the existing site near the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute on Devon Spring Road as part of a ten-year plan to upgrade waste management on the Island.

Busy weekend for Police

It was a busy holiday weekend for the Police Support Unit (PSU) which arrested 25 people for a variety of offences including suspicion of possessing a controlled drug, offensive words and suspicion of impaired driving.

Between 8 p.m. on Saturday and 4 a.m. on Sunday, the PSU arrested five people for possessing a controlled drug, outstanding warrants, possessing an offensive weapon and for being drunk and incapable, Police said yesterday.

Police also conducted traffic checks on Frog Lane, Devonshire where four suspects were arrested for suspected possession of drugs and two others for outstanding warrants

Between last Friday and yesterday, Police said they arrested seven people for suspected impaired driving.

And Police said there were ten incidents of breaking and entering, 30 damage-only traffic collisions and nine collisions resulting in injury.

'Just a spliff'

Pleading guilty to possessing cannabis on Court Street cost a 30-year-old man $500 in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Robert Campbell, of Orchard Grove, Pembroke admitted to possessing 0.87 grams of the controlled drug on May 19.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said Police found two plastic twists in Campbell's front trouser pocket.

Campbell told Police, "It is just a spliff,".

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered Campbell to pay by September 8, or spend 50 days in prison.

Cash, cheques taken from business

A thief stole $840 in cash and four cheques from B&M Excavating and Trucking last Monday.

The victim said the B&M premises were broken into sometime between at 5.30 p.m. on August 29 and 6.45 p.m. on August 30.