St John man admits to drugs charges

Possession of marijuana landed a 47-year-old man before the court but an unpaid fine could be what secures him a lodging at HMP Dodds for the next few months.

When Rawle Lynderson Padmore, of no fixed place of abode, appeared before Chief Magistrate Christopher Birch today it was revealed at he had an outstanding debt of $600 which was imposed on him by the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court.
“I have not paid the fine. I had asked for a little leniency,” Padmore told the Chief Magistrate after pleading to charges of possession, possession with intent to supply and having a traffickable quantity of cannabis on April 15.

Police were at Pool Land No. 2, St John conducting an operation when the saw Padmore walking with a plastic bag. On seeing the police he threw away his parcel and dash off into a bushy area but was apprehended, Station Sergeant Peter Barrow told the court. He was escorted back to the area where he discarded the bag. It was retrieved and examined and found to contain 25 grammes of compressed cannabis.

“I find that marijuana through a track this morning and I had it to sell off,” he allegedly told police when asked to account for the illegal substance. He however gave a different response when the Chief Magistrate asked him a similar question.

“I did not find it Sir. I bought it from a fella named Grouch. I does smoke it, Sir,” Padmore confessed.

Due to the unpaid fine he was remanded to Dodds to appear before the District ‘B’ Magistrates’ Court on April 24 to give an account. He returns before the Chief Magistrate the very next day – April 25 – in the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court for sentencing on the cannabis charges.