Community service, fine for slapping nurse

A Lancaster, St James man was hit with a fine of $1 000 and ordered to complete 240 hours of community service for slapping a nurse in her face at a polyclinic last month. 

Josiah Lovell, 22, reappeared before Magistrate Deidre McKenna at the Oistins Magistrates’ Court and was ordered to pay the fine within two months or face three months in prison for assaulting Sister Hyacinth Green, occasioning her actual bodily harm at the Randall Phillips Polyclinic in Oistins on September 22.

Last week, he was ordered to pay Green $400 in compensation. 

Ordering him to complete the community service hours at any place other than a health facility, McKenna condemned his behaviour and said that the sentence should act as a deterrent to others. 

She noted that there must be consistency in sentencing, pointing out that the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating, as he had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, apologised to the nurse, and expressed remorse. 

The case was adjourned for review on February 12.