‘Backpack craze’

The recent fad of young men walking around with haversacks has caught the attention of Bridgetown Magistrate Douglas Frederick, so much so that the judicial officer wants to know what is the fascination with the backpacks.

“Why it is that every young person has a haversack on their back. What is contained in those haversacks — weapons, drugs?” the Magistrate asked Oswaldson Erickson Hutson Small in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court today.

“Mine had in drugs sir,” the Lot No. 1 St Christopher, Christ Church resident responded moments after he had pleaded guilty to charges of possession, possession with intent to supply and possession with intent to traffic cannabis on June 7, 2015.

Police were on patrol along the ABC Highway when they had the occasion to stop the vehicle that the accused was driving. The marijuana – estimated to fetch $90 on the street – was discovered in Small’s haversack after he consented to a search.

“That was a case of helping out somebody. The person that own the car was drunk,” said Small who also disclosed that he used the drugs for about six years.

“But I don’t do drugs or nothing so no more, sir. That’s why I come and deal with this. My girl caused me to change. I realise that to get a better life for myself I had to stop certain things,” he told Magistrate Frederick.

Small’s conviction card revealed he had received chances in the past when he appeared before the court on two occasions for the same offence, resulting in a conviction, reprimand and discharge.

This time around he was slapped with a $700 fine, which he must pay in one month if he wants to avoid spending one month in prison.