Cocaine and curfew breach land porter in court

Steven Anthony Rudder had a double dose of bad luck on Saturday.

Not only did he receive some bad news that someone he knew had died, but he was also held by police officers and charged with two offences.

When the 39-year-old porter of #148 Atlantic Shores, Christ Church appeared in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court over the weekend, he admitted to being in possession of cocaine and to contravening COVID-19 Directive No. 13 by leaving home between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. on August 14, 2021.

According to the facts, police were on patrol in Enterprise, Christ Church, where they saw Rudder running and fidgeting. He threw a package on the ground in his bid to escape but was apprehended by lawmen.

The package was retrieved and found to contain two bags of cocaine.

In giving an explanation, Rudder told the court he was home when he received the news that someone he knew had passed away.

He said he ran out of the house and was on his way to pass on the news when he came across the cocaine and put it in his pocket.

Rudder’s mother told the court her son had been in and out of the Psychiatric Hospital and that his behaviour had changed recently.

Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes released Rudder on $1 500 pending sentencing on September 10.

Rudder, however, promised to admit himself to the Psychiatric Hospital for treatment.