avoid heavy penalties, ended up in hot water anyway after discovering there was a warrant out for his brother's arrest.

Umoja Nia Spencer, of South Road in Warwick, pleaded guilty this week in Magistrates' Court to charges of driving while disqualified and giving false information to Police.

The 20-year-old was stopped for a routine check as he travelled along Union Street, Pembroke on March 15, and identified himself to the officers as "Jake Waizwu Spencer''.

When it was discovered that a warrant had been issued for a man answering to that name, Spencer was taken to Hamilton Police Station where he admitted his true identity.

Spencer, who had planned to be in Atlanta, Georgia, taking college entrance exams instead of in court, said he panicked when "six (Police) cars pulled up''.

"If it was a routine check, why were there six cars?'' he asked. "The first thing they asked was `Where are the drugs?'.'' Magistrate the Wor. John Judge fined Spencer $350 and added 18 months to his road ban for driving while disqualified. He was given a conditional discharge for issuing false information.