Caught twice in possession of weed

Benjamin Lester Chaplin

Forty-nine year old Benjamin Lester Chaplin, a resident of Fabers Road, appeared unrepresented this morning before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart where he pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled drug.  Chaplin, who was before the court three weeks ago for assaulting a minor with a belt, was busted twice in one day in possession of cannabis.  He was initially caught with nine point eight grams of the drug by police on mobile patrol in the vicinity of Petticoat Alley.  He was subsequently arrested and taken to the Queen Street Police Station where another amount was detected on his person.  Despite previous convictions for similar offences, Chaplin was spared a jail sentence when he was imposed two non-custodial sentences.  He was fined eight thousand dollars plus cost of court in the first instance and three hundred dollars plus cost of court for possession of three point seven grams of cannabis.  Chaplin has until April twenty ninth to pay his fines or in default, he will serve six and three months, respectively.