Cocaine addict says illegal substance keeps him alive

A Barbadian man who was deported from Canada some 13 years ago appeared in a local court on Tuesday on a cocaine-related charge, telling Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes that he used the drug to stay alive.

Terrance Walcott, of no fixed place of abode, admitted in the No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that he is a cocaine addict but also said that he used the illegal substance for medicinal purposes as well.

Walcott, who seemed disoriented and distracted at times while responding to questions from Magistrate Weekes, is charged that on October 6, he had apparatus for misuse of cocaine while on Hastings Road, Christ Church.

The accused, who has seven previous convictions, four of them drug-related, pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was given a sentence of three months in Dodds Prison, but that was suspended for 12 months. The chief magistrate warned Walcott that if he flouted the law within the next 12 months, he would end up behind bars.

Outlining the facts of the case, Station Sergeant Chrisna Williams said officers on patrol saw Walcott walking along Hastings Road carrying a lady’s bag, which aroused their suspicion.

He was searched, with his consent, and the apparatus was found.

When asked if he had anything to say before the sentence was imposed, Walcott gave a brief history of his life dating back to his robbery conviction in Canada two decades ago, his six-month stint at the Psychiatric Hospital, his failure to take medication supplied by that mental health institution for a month, and government’s provision of antiretroviral treatment for him for HIV.

He indicated to the court that his drug of choice was cocaine and the only time he smoked marijuana was when he was going out to party.

Chief Magistrate Weekes’ parting advice to Walcott was that he should take advantage of this chance of freedom to help himself.