Cleaner blames alcohol for bad behaviour, placed on bond

A Bush Hall woman has been placed on a six-month bond after admitting to disorderly conduct in Bridgetown, which she blamed on alcohol consumption.

“I had in drinks” was the excuse given by Shernelle Dionne Walcott for misbehaving in the City on Tuesday for several hours.

The 38-year-old cleaner of Pioneer Road appeared before acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick and agreed that she had caused a disturbance on Fairchild Street.

The No. 1 District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court heard that police responded to a call from a man who reported that a woman was misbehaving next to his motor car. When police arrived, the complainant had left the area but returned shortly afterwards. Walcott approached officers and requested their services, claiming that she had been run over by a vehicle, eventually becoming loud and abusive towards people in the area, who told officers that she had been behaving badly for the entire day.

After returning, the original complainant told police he was no longer interested in pursuing the matter after realising that Walcott was under the influence of alcohol.

She was warned about her behaviour and ordered to move along. Walcott headed towards River Road and held on to the wing mirror of a parked public service vehicle, dislocating it. She continued cursing and speaking loudly. Police officers spoke to her again, but she then turned her wrath on them, resulting in her arrest.

“Sir, I was by the bar drinking,” Walcott told the court. “It wasn’t that much”.

Asked by the chief magistrate how many children she has, she replied: “Seven”.

“You have seven children and walking about drinking so much? You have to straighten up and set the right example,” Magistrate Frederick said before placing her on a bond to keep the peace for six months.

“I do not want to place any hardship on you or keep you away from your children. This is the best I can do but you have to do what is best for yourself and the seven children that depend on you.”

If breached, she will have to pay $750 immediately or serve one month in prison.

(JB)