Man racks up 61st conviction

Luckily for Peter Emmerson Haynes, his 61st conviction didn’t result in him being incarcerated.

The well-known criminal received a belated birthday present when he was convicted, reprimanded and discharged after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis in the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The incident occurred on January 3.

Telling Magistrate Douglas Frederick that he had not been in trouble “for a while” the 40-year-old of Henley, St John said he had been turning his life around. He revealed that he was now employed as a conductor and was making an honest living and asked the magistrate to give him a chance.

“When you say you haven’t gotten in trouble in long, how long do you mean?” the magistrate asked him.

“Sir, I haven’t been in trouble for a year now,” was Haynes’ reply. “You know I am accustomed to being in and out of jail, so not getting in trouble for a year is a long time.”

Station Sergeant Neville Reid said Haynes was wanted in connection with a case of aggravated burglary when he was seen working on a minibus along Haggatt Hall, St Michael.

He was arrested on suspicion of those charges and during a search a white wax paper wrapping was found in Haynes’ right front pants pocket.

The drugs weighed 0.5 grammes and had an estimated street value of $5.

While Magistrate Frederick showed his leniency by handing him a CRD, Haynes was granted $1 500 bail on a charge of assaulting Constable Julian Lashley in the execution of his duty. He was not required to plead to that charge as it occurred in the District “B” jurisdiction. (RB)