Police identify David Mutch as man found dead in his home

A man found dead in a Sandy's home has been identified as 39-year-old David Mutch.

Mr. Mutch was found by family members in a non-responsive state in his home at around 11.10 a.m. on Thursday.

He was pronounced dead on scene by an on-call physician at 1.30 p.m. that same day.

A Police spokesperson said an autopsy is expected, but foul play is not suspected.

City road closures for this weekend announced

A number of roads in Hamilton will be closed over the weekend.

Starting at 7 p.m. yesterday, through to the early hours of Sunday morning, King Street between Church and Reid Streets will be reduced to one lane of traffic for commuters leaving Hamilton. King Street south of Reid Street will open for two-way traffic.

Spurling's Hill will be closed to all traffic entering and leaving Hamilton. Access to East Broadway will be via King Street south.

Tomorrow, between 6 a.m. and 12 noon, Reid Street between Burnaby and Queen Streets will be closed together with the length of Queen Street.

This will allow for a crane to be used to install air conditioning on a building on Queen Street.

Police respond to two single-motorcycle crashes

A road accident yesterday left one man needing medical attention while a second left another man in handcuffs.

According to a Police spokesperson, at around 1 a.m. Police responded to a crash on Verdmont Road, Smith's.

The spokesman said: "It appears that a car was travelling along Verdmont Road near the junction with Sayle Road when the driver, a 29-year-old Southampton man lost control and collided with a wall."

The driver was not injured in the collision, but Police later arrested him on suspicion of impaired driving.

At 7.20 a.m. Police responded to a second single-vehicle collision on Burnt House Hill, in Warwick.

"It appears that a motorcycle was travelling along Burnt House Hill when the rider, a 36-year-old Sandys man, lost control and collided with a wall."

The rider was taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital suffering from a leg injury.

Impaired cyclist fined, banned from driving

A man who blew a kiss at officers when asked for a breath sample pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to driving while impaired.

According to Crown counsel Larissa Burgess, on November 9 Police approached Robin Stovell, 45, outside The Beach, on Front Street, because he appeared to be having difficulty with an auxiliary cycle.

Asked for his name and date of birth, the Pembroke man responded: "I don't have a name."

Noticing that Stovell appeared to be impaired by alcohol, officers arrested him on suspicion of impaired driving and took him to Hamilton Police Station.

Once there, he was asked to produce a breath sample, but instead he blew a kiss at the Sergeant on duty.

Appearing in court yesterday in custody, Stovell pleaded guilty to impaired driving and driving without a licence on the same date.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner fined Stovell $100 and issued seven demerit points for not having a valid licence and fined another $1,000 for driving while impaired.

Mr. Warner also banned Stovell from driving all vehicles for one year.

Soap thief fined in Magistrates' Court

A convicted thief was fined yesterday after he admitted stealing soap from a Hamilton grocery store.

Dean Burgess, 48, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to stealing four containers of body wash from Market Place.

According to Crown counsel Larissa Burgess, a store manager saw the defendant enter the store on November 10 and walk to isle one. A few minutes later, he turned and left the store without stopping at a cash register.

The manager then examined security camera footage and saw Burgess removing several containers of body wash and put them in a bag before leaving.

The manager found Burgess sitting outside the store on a parked motorcycle and confronted him, with another employee.

Police later found four bottles of body wash, valued at $58.65, in the defendant's bag.

Burgess initially pleaded not guilty to the theft, but asked for his plea to be reversed after Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered him to be remanded in custody.

Asked why he stole the soap, he said: "I needed some money. I know it's not the right thing to do. I won't let it happen again."

Mr. Warner responded: "You have been saying that for years now."

Reading out a list of seven previous convictions for theft, burglary and possessing stolen goods, Mr. Warner said: "You have got to realise that you cannot just walk into a place and take things you want."

Mr. Warner sentenced Burgess to nine-months imprisonment, suspended by two years, and ordered he pay a $300 fine.

"That is your chance," he said. "And don't think you fooled me."