imprisonment in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Shaun Patrick Hatherley, 34, appeared in court on charges of driving while disqualified and driving an uninsured and unlicensed motorcycle and received fines totalling $1,100 in relation to these charges.

Hatherley, of Riviera Crescent, then received four months imprisonment after it emerged he had not paid a further $1,100 in fines dating back to December 1997.

However, it later emerged that Hatherley had got away from the Police after being led from the courtroom.

A Police spokesman was able to confirm the report, saying that the Central Investigations Department was looking into the matter.

Hatherley's old fines were for similar traffic offences.

"You have treated this court with utter contempt,'' Magistrate Archibald Warner told Hatherley before sentencing him.

"The court will now treat you with like manner.'' But Hatherley claimed he was involved in an accident and broke his hip which left him unable to work which was why he could not pay the fines and he said he had a family to take care of.

Mr. Warner sentenced Hatherley to four months for the previously unpaid fines and ordered that he pay yesterday's fines by the end of the day.

BALLOON WARNING FOR HOLIDAY CLB ENV Balloon warning for holidays With various holiday celebrations approaching, five local conservation groups have joined forces to educate the public about environmentally-friendly ways to decorate.

The Environmental Coalition Group is urging the public to use banners, flags or paper streamers instead of helium balloons. And when balloons are used, they should be deflated and properly placed in the trash.

Bermuda Zoological Society's (BZS) head aquarist Jennifer Gray said virtually all helium balloons released in Bermuda will set down in the ocean.

Balloons in the ocean may be mistaken for jellyfish, squid or other foods by sea turtles, sea birds, dolphins, whales and bluefin tunas -- and they will eventually die from eating a balloon.

Balloons are not digestible, and when sea animals eat them, they die of starvation or malnutrition because they have a false sense of their stomachs being full.

The Coalition -- which is comprised of the BZS, the Audubon Society, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, Bermuda National Trust and Friends of Fish -- has begun distributing flyers providing information about environmentally-friendly ways to brighten celebrations.

And the group reminded the public that releasing helium balloons in Bermuda is illegal under the Waste and Litter Control Act of 1987.

"We think everyone can benefit from selecting, and properly using, environmentally friendly decorations, taking into consideration our fragile Island environment,'' said Ms Gray.