A 55-year-old man was yesterday ordered to serve 40 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to illegally having cocaine in his possession. He told the court he uses it for “smoking purposes.”
John Beaton of Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan who read the charge to him. It stated that Beaton on February 3, at School Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, had in his possession 6 grammes of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
The defendant who pleaded guilty to the charge was then told by Magistrate Ann McLennan that he is required to serve 40 hours of community service with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council or if in default, two weeks imprisonment.
The court yesterday heard that a police mobile patrol was heading south along School Street in Albouystown when it observed Beaton standing in a yard. The ranks stopped, approached the accused, and conducted a search of his person.
During the search, a small multi-coloured container which was in his right hand was opened in his presence whereupon a quantity of a small brick-like substance suspected to be cocaine was observed. Beaton was then told of the offence, cautioned, arrested and taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station where the suspected narcotic was weighed and amounted to 6 grammes with a street value of $3,000.
Asked by Magistrate McLennan for an explanation as to why the cocaine was found on him, Beaton responded that he uses it for “smoking purposes.”
