Man jailed for ‘wining’ on blind woman

A 42-YEAR-OLD man who pleaded guilty to pulling down a blind woman’s underwear and gyrating on her, after she refused to give him a dollar, was yesterday jailed for 12 months with hard labour by a San Fernando Magistrate. Deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington scolded Samuel Blackette, 42, of no fixed place of abode, who appeared in the First Court charged with indecent assault. The court also heard that Blackette has ten previous convictions for offences ranging from larceny to indecent assault. After pleading guilty to the charge, Blackette was told to sit while court prosecutor Sgt Seedharie related the facts of the case.

According to the charge, around 10.45 am on October 16, Blackette approached the 29-year-old blind woman near the Hindu Credit Union building in San Fernando and asked her for a dollar. When she refused, Blackette raised up her  skirt, pulled down her underwear and started gyrating on the shocked, screaming woman. The court heard Blackette told the woman, “If I can’t get a dollar, I would take a wine.” The incident was witnessed by a security guard, who alerted the police and who later positively identified Blackette to PC Rishi Ramdass of San Fernando CID. After being scolded for his indecent behaviour by the magistrate, Blackette was ordered to spend the next year behind bars.