Man confesses ‘coke’ habit

“I stopped it for a while, but I had a relapse,” Taylor explained to the court when he was asked by the magistrate if he did not try attending a rehabilitation programme.

Court Prosecutor Sgt Wendell Fernando, in relating the facts of the case to the court, said that at about 9 pm on Wednesday, Taylor was arrested after PC Nicholas discovered three “rocks” of cocaine in his hand at Circular Street in San Fernando.

Taylor, who was represented by attorney Anusha Panday, pleaded guilty before Stroude in the Second Court.

The accused promised the magistrate that if given a chance, he would quit his drug habit permanently. Stroude said he did not believe Taylor, reminding him of his two previous convictions for similar offences.

The magistrate then sentenced Taylor to six months imprisonment with hard labour. Stroude ordered that after Taylor served his custodial sentence he is to be admitted to the Piparo Empowerment Centre for Drug Rehabilitation.

The magistrate instructed Taylor’s mother to make the necessary arrangements with an official from the centre, to have Taylor admitted upon his release from prison.