Man tried to get BlackBerry from policewoman by false pretence – court hears

A man who tried to obtain a BlackBerry Curve cellular phone from a policewoman by false pretence was placed on $65,000 bail by Magistrate Hazel Octave-Hamilton at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Sherwin Clarke, a 22-year-old bus conductor/electronic technician of Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was charged with the offence of trying to obtain by false pretence the said cellular phone on April 23 from policewoman Sharon Logan at the Kitty Police Station.

It is alleged that on the said day Clarke went to Logan and told her that a woman by the name of Shebana Sears had sent him to collect the phone which belongs to her. According to Sears, however, she did not know the accused.

After the charge was read to him, Clarke told the court that the said phone was returned to Sears and she did not want to pursue the matter any further.

However, when the magistrate asked Sears if this is indeed true she said no.

The matter was transferred to Court Three  for fixture when Sears changed her mind and told Magistrate Judy Latchman that she did not want to pursue the matter and  she only needed her phone which is at the station to be returned to her.

The magistrate then told her that she would have to pay a fine for wasting the court’s time if she chooses to discontinue the matter.

Sears was then asked by the magistrate to take a few minutes to make a decision.

She then decided to pursue the matter even though the accused offered to pay the fine so as to finish the matter.

Clarke then stormed  out of the courtroom after hearing the decision.

The matter will continue on May 31.