Belle remanded for assault over “mock gold”

After four failed attempts at reaching a resolution with a man who sold him “mock gold”, a 24-year-old man took matters into his own hands and not only landed himself before the court but also on remand at Dodds for the next few days.

Hose Junior Belle, of Storey Gap, Codrington Hill, St Michael, pleaded guilty to assaulting Terrance Worrell causing him actual bodily harm, on December 17, 2021.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Victoria Taitt said Belle had known Worrell for the past eight years. However, they had not been on speaking terms recently.

On December 17 last year, Worrell was walking along the area of Pelican Village when he suddenly felt a painful blow to the back of his head and neck. When he looked back, he saw Belle coming at him again with a construction helmet in his hands.

Worrell got away and was able to report the matter to the police, Sergeant Taitt told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court as she outlined the facts of the incident.

On Friday before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, Belle admitted to assaulting Worrell.

“He sold me mock gold!” Belle said when asked to explain his actions.

“You serious?” the Chief Magistrate queried, to which Belle bluntly stated: “Yes, Sir”.

Belle explained that he had paid $400 for the fake jewellery.

“I told him about it four times,” Belle said.

“So instead of going to the police, you lick down a man over fake gold?” Weekes again questioned.

The first-time offender again responded: “Yes, Sir”.

“So we are in the jungle now? We don’t do it so. This is not how we operate. You can’t take the law into your own hands,” Chief Magistrate Weekes said as he remanded Belle until March 2 pending sentence.