Man, 22, charged with cashing forged cheques

A defendant has appeared at court charged with cashing thousands of dollars from fraudulent cheques after stealing a cheque book.

Steven O’Neill, 22, faced nine charges relating to forged cheques he used in Bank of Butterfield, Pembroke, between February 23 and February 26.

O’Neill, of Berkeley Road, Pembroke, is also charged with another six dishonesty offences, including burglary.

At Magistrates’ Court yesterday, he pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges.

As well as the alleged cheque offences, O’Neill is accused of stealing a helmet worth $25 and a Bank of Butterfield cheque book in Pembroke, on February 23, and a rain suit worth $350 in Pembroke on February 26.

He is charged with stealing items worth hundreds of dollars, and more than $800 cash, following break-ins in Pembroke and the City of Hamilton on March 1 or 2.

He is also charged with being found in a Southampton dwelling without lawful excuse, on March 9, and of attempting to enter the same dwelling on the same date. Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner adjourned the case to March 27 so a date can be fixed for trial.

30th birthday celebration lands motorcyclist in trouble

A man out celebrating his 30th birthday was caught by Police as he made his way drunkenly home on his motorcycle.

Antonio Aguiar was spotted failing to obey a stop sign in near his home in North Street, Pembroke, at about 3.50 a.m. on Sunday, February 4, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said that, shortly afterwards, officers noticed Aguiar had difficulty dismounting his vehicle and putting it on its stand.

She said he was also steady on his feet, his eyes were glazed and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

He was taken to the Police station, where a test showed he was over the alcohol limit.

Aguiar’s interpreter told the court: “He wishes to apologise.

“He’s normally not a drinking man, but he did have a few black and cokes while out celebrating his birthday and he’s sorry.” Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Aguiar $1,000 and banned him from driving all vehicles for 12 months.

Wheelchair-bound motorist over the drink-drive limit

A drunk motorist has been banned from driving for five years after being caught by Police for the second time in just over a year.

Michael Cardoso, 20, told officers he had drunk two beers after they stopped him in his car in Middle Road, Paget, at 1.30 a.m. on February 10.

However, a test revealed he was over the legal alcohol limit, Crown counsel Cindy Clarke told Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Ms Clarke said Cardoso, of Rose Hill Road, Southampton, had a similar conviction in February 2006.

Cardoso, who is wheelchair-bound, told the court he needed to be able to drive to meet hospital appointments, to play tennis and to help him get a job.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Cardoso $1,500 and disqualified him from driving all vehicles for five years.