Lovestruck during curfew

When a jilted lover could not reach his ex-girlfriend to find out why she stopped speaking to him, the 40-year-old left home during curfew hours to find out why.

Now Leroy Augustus Scott, of Charnocks, Christ Church will spend six months in jail, for being outdoors at 5:50 a.m., on April 25 without having a reasonable explanation when a government directive was in place that every person remain indoors.

He is also to return to court on October 7 to face the indictable charge of trespassing, also on April 25, at the house of Clara Brown – grandmother of the former girlfriend – with intent to inflict bodily harm.

According to Sergeant Theodore McClean, Scott had previously been warned by the homeowner and the police not to visit the residence as the relationship between him and the young woman had “run its course” and he had no reason to be there.

In his defence Scott told Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes: “I was trying to get in contact with my girlfriend. I used to live there. She wasn’t answering the call when I was at the door so I pull the door and the latch fly. I ain’t know why she ain’t answering me so I get vex.

“Me and she was talking the day in front and kissing and so on. So I don’t don’t know why she didn’t answer. I just wanted to ask her a question,” Scott explained in the District ‘D’ Magistrates’ Court.

But the magistrate questioned why he could not wait at least until 10 a.m. to venture to someone’s house especially when the relationship was over.

“I did not go to hurt anybody. I just wanted to ask her why she ain’t want to talk to me, anymore. Me and she was breezing the day before,” Scott reiterated.

That response did not sit well with the Chief Magistrate.

“This is a lawless case. You do understand that the curfew is for the protection of the place? For the first responders, the supermarket workers . . . all of the people on the frontline, trying to make sure that the country can open at some point in time and you out there doing foolishness?

“This is a flimsy excuse! I can’t let a fella like you so go home . . . that will make a mockery of the legislation and send the wrong message . . .While up there think about moving on with your life,” Chief Magistrate Weekes said as he imposed the sentence.