Magistrate orders man to stay away from alcohol “until further notice”

When alcoholic drinks are being poured during the holiday festivities, Ulric Christopher Leacock will not be allowed to partake.

The 69-year-old resident of 1st Avenue Goodland, St Michael has been ordered by the court not to imbibe “until further notice”, after he pleaded guilty to assaulting his stepdaughter Shakola Gill on December 19, 2023.

The court heard that on that day, Gill was at home in her bedroom when Leacock entered, saying, “Today, today is the last day” before slapping her in the face.

Appearing before Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes, Leacock apologised for the incident, tearfully admitting that he did not remember the incident.

“When he is not drinking, you do not want a better man than Ulric,” his spouse – the complainant’s mother – told the court. However, she admitted that he behaves “badly” after consuming alcohol.

She said he had previously admitted himself into a six-week programme to get help and had been sober for 17 years, but in recent times, he had taken up drinking again, and she asked the court for assistance.

“You need to leave out the drinks and drink more Busta, Frutee, coconut water and water,” the chief magistrate advised Leacock before stating his intention to have him entered into a treatment programme.

Weekes placed him on $2 000 bail with one surety and told him he was prevented from drinking anything alcoholic.

“This is a condition of your bail – and includes shandy as that has in alcohol. You are prohibited from drinking until further notice. If you have any alcohol, I can lock you up as I can have you tested for alcohol,” he told Leacock.

The matter was adjourned until February 13, 2024.