A 23-year-old man who skipped Regiment duty was let off with a warning in Magistrates' Court this week.

Nathaniel Nya Rawlins, of Reid Street, Pembroke previously pleaded guilty to failing to attend military duty on February 21 and 22 and March 7 through 21, and failing to pay a fine.

Bail was set at $500 and a social inquiry report was ordered.

Rawlins joined the Regiment in January 1997 and has a year and a half left to serve.

After reviewing the social inquiry report, Magistrate Edward King told Rawlins: "Army life is good, man.'' "You have the height to be an officer...I want you to come back and tell this old man you've become an officer. Can you promise that?'' Rawlins responded: "No, sir, I can't promise that.'' Mr. King said: "See, the Regiment taught you discipline and respect. You know where to put the `sirs'.'' Rawlins stated: "The Regiment didn't teach me respect, sir, my mother did.'' "The Regiment reinforced it,'' Mr. King retorted, before sentencing Rawlins to an 18-month conditional discharge.

MAN FINED FOR `A LITTLE BIT OF HERB' CTS Man fined for `a little bit of herb' A "little bit of herb'' earned a man a $150 fine in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

William Paiva, 30, of Summit View Drive, Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to having .42 grams of cannabis on St. Monica's Road, Pembroke on December 2, last year.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told Magistrate Edward King that Police Task Force officers approached Paiva as he was sitting on a motorcycle around 1.30 p.m.

As Police approached Paiva he put his right hand in his coat pocket and put an object in the hand of the nearest officer.

Mrs. Smith said Paiva told Police: "It's just a little bit of herb.'' Paiva was searched and later charged with possession of cannabis.

Yesterday, he told Mr. King: "I'm sorry. It's embarrassing to me, my family, and my kids.'' WOMAN PAYS PRICE FOR MISSING COURT CTS Woman pays price for missing court Failing to appear in Magistrates' Court last December cost a woman, who admitted driving an unlicensed car, a hefty fine.

Traci Burgess, 25, of Harlem Heights, Hamilton Parish, was stopped by Police on Kindley Field Road on September 6, last year.

But she failed to appear in court for the offence on December 12.

Magistrate Edward King yesterday pointed out that December 14 was the day new fines came into force for driving unlicensed cars.

Burgess also pleaded guilty to driving the same unlicensed car on January 19, on North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish.

She was fined $750 for each offence and she must pay half by June 19 and the balance by July 24.

SANDYS MAND DENIES TOUCHING MINOR CTS Sandys man denies touching minor A 38-year-old Sandys Parish man has denied touching a minor for sexual purposes.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday. He was charged with "touching his hand to the hand of a young person'' for sexual purposes on May 26.

Magistrate Edward King granted the man bail in the sum of $1,500 with a like surety. He will return to court for trial on October 13.

DISQUALIFIED DRIVER FACES SENTENCING CTS Disqualified driver faces sentencing A 23-year-old Pembroke man will be sentenced in July after pleading guilty to four traffic offences.

Shane Edmund Todd, of Pembroke Park Road, was stopped by Police on May 21 on Middle Road in Paget and found to be riding while disqualified.

Todd also pleaded guilty to riding without due care on October 26, 1996 on Harrington Sound Road. He also admitted to not having a valid driver's licence and not having third party insurance.

Magistrate Edward King set down sentencing for July 6.

SOCIAL INQUIRY REPORT ORDERED CTS Social inquiry report ordered A magistrate ordered a social inquiry report on a Pembroke teen who pleaded guilty to stealing three miniature vehicles worth $1,500.

Kyle Tychonn Smith, 17, of Parson's Road, along with two other people who were not before the court, entered a home on Park View Lane in Devonshire between November 21 and November 26, 1996.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told Magistrate Edward King that the owner of the battery-operated vehicles, Shawnette Rodgers, left them at the home on November 12.

She discovered them missing on November 26 and made inquiries of her own and confronted two other men.

The men claimed they had entered the home several times with Smith.

Smith was later interviewed at Hamilton Police Station with his mother present and admitted to breaking and entering the home and stealing the vehicles with their battery packs.

Mr. King ordered Smith to return to court on July 10 for the reading of the social inquiry report.

Smith was released on bail of $750 with one surety.