$500 Fine For Damaging Gas Station

In Magistrates Court this morning [Mar.6] 54-year-old George Mouchette, saying that “they don’t make glass like they used to,” admitted kicking in the glass door at the Somerset Esso Station on the night of 24th January 2012 and causing damage valued at $486.

The facts read out by the Plea Court prosecutor were that Mr Mouchette had turned up the gas station as the station was closing down for the night.

His request for $2.00 worth of gas was not fulfilled and he then went to the office, shouted at the manager, kicked at the glass door, and broke the glass. Mr Mouchette subsequently turned himself in at the Somerset Police station and admitted to police that he had smashed the door.

In his defence, Mr Mouchette told Senior Magistrate Archie Warner that he knew that the gas station closed at 8:00pm, but that he had arrived at the gas station at 7:55pm and had asked for $2:00 worth of gas for his bike. He said that he thought that the attendant had relayed his request to the office and that he expected to be served his gas.

He said that the attendant came back and told him that the pumps were being shut down and he could not be served. Mr Mouchette said that this angered him and he went to the office where he found the door closed. He admitted that he had shouted at the manager and had kicked at the door.

Mr Mouchette admitted to the Magistrate that he was wrong and said that he had offered to pay for the broken door and had made a payment. The Prosecutor agreed and said that since 24th January, Mr Mouchette had paid $50.

The Senior Magistrate convicted Mr Mouchette, fined him $500 and ordered him to make restitution of $486 with the restitution to be made good within 30 days or Mr Mouchette would have to serve 30 days in prison.

#CrimeInBermuda #MagistratesAndSupremeCourt #Somerset

Category: All, Court Reports, Crime