a Pembroke man who called Police "little black f***kers''.

But despite Mr. King's harsh words the defendant -- a black man himself -- was not charged for his remarks which he made after he was arrested for driving a vehicle while impaired.

Wayne Harold Smith, 44, of Curving Avenue, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to that charge.

Mr. King fined the self-employed mason $600 for driving while impaired and disqualified him from driving for a year.

"There is no place any longer, or ever was, for addressing people in terms of the colour of their skin,'' he said. "A man is a man and a woman is a woman -- none of this other stuff.

"In other circumstances you may have been charged for making racial slurs -- or whatever they call them these days.'' Mr. King then cited what he believed was the current law under which Smith could have been charged for his remarks.

Crown Counsel Veronica Gordon said mobile patrol police officers noticed Smith on December 11, as his bike crossed over the centre line twice as he drove through the city of Hamilton.

When Smith pulled into the Esso gas station on the corner of Church and Par-La-Ville roads Police approached him and smelt alcohol fumes.

Asked if he had been drinking, Smith said: "Just a few beers and some Cockspurs''.

When Police told him they were arresting him on suspicion of impaired driving he replied: "Just take me to the lock-up''.

The officers then escorted Smith to Hamilton Police Station where he questioned why he was being held, pulled a bottle of Cockspur rum from his pocket and began swigging it.

After Police retrieved the bottle, Smith refused to take the breathalyser test to measure the level of alcohol in his blood.

Instead he said: "Just put me in my cell you little, black f***kers.'' When Mr. King asked Smith if there were any "mitigating circumstances'' for his actions he said simply: "I've got nothing to say.'' WOMAN CHARGED TIH ASSAULT AND ROBBERY CTS Woman charged with assault and robbery A Devonshire woman was charged in Magistrates' Court yesterday with assaulting and robbing a man.

Maxine Annette Beech, of Christopher Close, Devonshire, pleaded not guilty to the two charges before Magistrate Ed King.

Police alleged the 36-year-old woman unlawfully wounded a man on Friday, December 4, in the parish of Pembroke.

She was also charged with stealing the man's wallet which contained $200 in cash.

Crown Counsel Veronica Gordon said three witnesses would be called for the prosecution while Defence Counsel Elizabeth Christopher said she would call a single witness.

Mr. King set the trial down for February 23, at 2.30 p.m. in Court 2 and granted Beech bail of $750.

TEEN FACES DRUGS SUPPLY CHARGES CTS Teen faces drugs supply charges A teenager charged with possessing cocaine and intending to supply it appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Jermaine Rumley, 19, of Spring Benny Road, Sandys, pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing the illicit drug and to a second charge of having a razor blade, two zip lock bags and 12 paper twists for drug use.

Police alleged they found the items with Rumley in Sandys parish on August 28.

Rumley, an electrician, pleaded guilty to wilfully and unlawfully damaging a cell door -- the property of the Bermuda government -- between August 28 and 29.

Magistrate Ed King ruled all three charges should be dealt with together on the same date.

He set down the trial for March 30 at 2.30 p.m. in Court 3 and granted Rumley bail of $1,000 with a like surety.