26-year-old electrician Damon Anderson who pleaded guilty to the unlawful wounding of his former boss.

Anderson worked for contractor Christopher Montgomery until the end of August.

He claimed he was then unjustly fired.

The court heard a series of heated verbal exchanges took place at a job site on August 29, culminating in Anderson throwing a rock at his former boss' head, causing a cut which required three stitches.

"I am deeply disturbed by the increasing trend for arguments to turn violent,'' said Senior Magistrate Will Francis before passing sentence.

"I don't care if your boss was wrong to fire you or not. In order to give you the benefit of the doubt and be as fair as I can to you, I will assume you were sorely provoked.

"Having an argument is one thing. Picking up a weapon, no matter what the circumstances, was criminally wrong and the sort of mistake that could put you in prison,'' Mr. Francis said.

Mr. Anderson, who lives in Devonshire, said he was "deeply sorry'' for what had happened and said it wouldn't happened again, he was given until the end of November to pay the fine.

DEVONSHIRE MAN, 33, ADMITS ASSAULTING SISTER CTS Devonshire man, 33, admits assaulting sister A social inquiry report has been ordered by Senior Magistrate Will Francis for a 33-year old recovering addict who yesterday pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to his younger sister.

Devonshire resident Troy Burgess admitted assaulting his sister Fioma on September 10, after she told him to wash the dishes.

According to Police evidence, the disagreement about dish washing escalated and resulted in Burgess hitting the woman with an iron, causing cuts to her head which required seven stitches.

Burgess has no convictions of a similar nature and according to Police Prosecutor Sgt. Phillip Taylor, "acted out of character.'' Mr. Francis released Burgess on $1,000 bail and warned him that any further violence by him would probably result in a prison sentence.

THEFT FROM SUPERMARKET COSTS MAN $300 FINE CTS Theft from supermarket costs man $300 fine Raymond Simmons was fined $300 yesterday by Senior Magistrate Will Francis after pleading guilty to stealing two bottles of liquor from the Co-op Supermarket on Union Street.

The offence took place last December when Simmons, 35, entered the shop, helped himself to the bottles and left without paying.

He was seen by a cashier and shop manager who followed the thief into the public toilets across the street. The manager recovered the bottles after Simmons had left the scene. Simmons, who lives on Tills Hill, Pembroke, was arrested a few days later. Police Prosecutor Sgt. Phillip Taylor told Magistrates' Court Simmons was last in court in July 1995 for stealing groceries, spending four months in prison for that offence.

He added Simmons had also been convicted of a number of similar offences.

Simmons said he was sorry for his crime and was given until the end of October to pay the fine.

MAGISTRATE TAKES MAN OFF ROAD FOR DRINK-DRIVING CTS Magistrate takes man off road for drink-driving A 65-year-old Devonshire man pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to driving while impaired.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the court that Llewellyn Ming, of Loyal Hill Pass, committed the offence on August 26 in Hamilton Parish.

At 7.30 p.m. Police were called to a two-vehicle accident just west of Radnor Road in which Ming was involved.

The officers noticed damage to the front of Ming's car and when they approached him they noticed his eyes were glazed, his speech was slurred, and his breath smelled of intoxicants.

Ming denied that he had been drinking. But he was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired and detained at Hamilton Police Station.

While in custody, Ming refused to give breath samples and was subsequently charged.

In his own defence, Ming told Senior Magistrate Will Francis: "The accident was not my fault, your Worship.'' But Mr. Francis said: "That's not really the issue. You are not being charged with the accident here today. The issue before me is whether or not you were driving while impaired.'' Ming was fined $450 and disqualified from driving all motor vehicles for one year.

QUARRELL LED TO OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOUR, COURT TOLD CTS Quarrel led to offensive behaviour, court told Swearing in a public place and behaving offensively cost a 32-year-old man $100.

Murray Iris, of South Breakers Road, Smith's Parish, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday to the offence.

Around 3.30 a.m. yesterday, Iris was seen quarrelling with a woman on Reid Street, Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said.

Iris was pointing his finger in her face and swearing at her.

A concerned member of public reported the incident to Police, Sgt. Taylor said.

When cautioned by Police officers, Iris said: "F*** off. I'm not speaking to you.'' The officers then told Iris that if he did not control his behaviour, they would arrest him.

"F*** off. You can do whatever you f***ing like,'' Iris said. "F*** all of you.'' Mr. Francis yesterday ordered Iris to pay a $100 fine.