Conductor jailed for forging driver’s licence, escaping from police custody

A 28-year-old minibus conductor who pleaded guilty to forgery and escaping from police custody was yesterday sentenced to five years imprisonment when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Between July 1 and 24 and on July 24 at Georgetown, with intent to defraud, Devon Williams of 59 Prince William Street, Plaisance forged one driver’s licence in favour of himself, purporting to show that the document had been issued by the Licence Revenue Office. And on July 24 at Georgetown, Williams escaped from police custody.

The defendant who pleaded with the magistrate for leniency told the court that he has young children to cater for and one of his children had only been born on Saturday last.

He explained to the court that he had bought the licence which originally belonged to a Henry Caesar from a “junkie”.  The defendant further went on to say that he had inserted his picture onto the licence.

Once arrested and taken into the police patrol vehicle to be transported to the police station, Williams said that when the vehicle made a stop he decided to escape.

The unrepresented Williams, who is not a first-offender, was later sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was sentenced to one year for escaping from police custody and four years for the forgery charges. The sentences will run concurrently.