endangered pedestrians and other cars escaped with a fine of $700.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith yesterday told Magistrates' Court that pedestrians had to jump out of the way as Maurice Christopher mounted the pavement and other cars had to take avoiding action.

Christopher, 19, jumped several stop signs and red lights during the chase through the centre of town and eventually crashed his bike.

The court heard that on October 13, 1998 Christopher, of Happy Valley Lane, Devonshire, was riding a Yamaha cycle on Washington Street in a dangerous manner. Christopher, who was riding at an excessive speed, failed to stop, ignored several stop signs and traffic lights without giving any thought to the safety of pedestrians who had to take action to avoid him.

Police had to take evasive action to avoid a collision on King Street and Christopher ended up colliding with the rear end of a parked vehicle between Court Street and Dundonald Street and fled on foot.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis asked Christopher: "Did you imagine for a minute you could get away with all that nonsense?'' Christopher pleaded guilty to failing to stop for the Police, driving in a dangerous manner, driving while uninsured and driving an unlicensed vehicle.

But he claimed he could not remember the incident.

Mr. Francis refused to accept that Christopher could not remember and said: "Let's try coming to the wicket. I am not going to let you say you can't remember.'' Mr. Francis adjourned the case to allow Police to come forward to positively identify Christopher as the driver. He adjourned the matter in the morning, but allowed Christopher to come back later yesterday and dealt with the case.

Christopher was fined $700 for dangerous driving, $200 for failing to stop for Police, $500 for driving without insurance, and $400 for driving an uninsured vehicle. He was also banned from driving all auxiliary cycles for 12 months.

LARGE FINE FOR OFFENCES CTS Large fine for offences A 20-year-old woman from Southampton was fined a total of $1,300 for a string of traffic offences.

The court heard that Donia DeSilva, of 3 Stadium Lane, Warwick, repeatedly failed to get a proper driver's licence.

In October 1999 she was fined for having no driver's licence, but continued to drive without a proper licence for her car and while uninsured.

DeSilva pleaded guilty to the traffic offences.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis asked DeSilva: "Are you still driving?'' Desilva said she was not.

She was fined $400 for driving without a proper driver's licence and $900 for driving an unlicensed car.

REPORT ORDERED FOR STUDENT CTS Report ordered for student A magistrate yesterday ordered a social inquiry report on a student involved with another student in a fight outside the bus terminal on Christmas Eve.

The student Shaki Minors, of 16 Happy Valley Lane, was charged with assault on 15-year-old David Antoine Trott after his mother complained to Police that her son had been punched in the jaw and Minors was subsequently charged with suspicion of assault.

The court heard that the student was expelled from school for his involvement in the altercation. He claimed that he punched the complainant after attempting to defend his cousin from the complainant and also that Trott, had a weapon.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis told the court: "I am troubled that a bigger boy threw one punch because of provocation.'' Mr. Francis said he was concerned that the student was being "expelled for only part of the evidence''.

"The court is here to look at the whole picture,'' he said before adjourning the matter until the conclusion of a social inquiry report. Minors was bailed for $5,000.

ACCUSED OF VIOLENT ROBBERY CTS Accused of violent robbery A Southampton man accused of the violent early morning robbery of another man at the beach house at Horseshoe Bay last week has appeared in Magistrates' Court.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis released Paul Laver Smith, 30, of Scenic Heights, Southampton, on bail of $3,000 plus surety.

The violent assault, during which the victim was injured when his wallet containing $110 was allegedly stolen, took place on January 12.

Smith was ordered to return to court for mention on February 17.