That does get me vex

What gets Chief Magistrate Sonya Young ‘vex’ is when a defendant comes to her court and says that he or she is committing a crime to support his or her child or children.{{more}}

“You are setting a bad example. I will be harder on you if you tell me that!”

This warning was issued to 28-year-old Natty Hoyte of Sandy Bay, who had just pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing 916 grams of marijuana with intent to supply to another.

A suspicious looking Hoyte was apprehended on the Bequia Express ferry on February 5, 2010, and arrested and charged at the Port Elizabeth Police Station in Bequia.

Hoyte, a mother of four, proceeded to explain to the Chief Magistrate that she had turned to a life of crime to take care of her children aged 11, seven, six and one-year-old.

She explained that the father of the first three children had died at sea, while the last one’s father was imprisoned overseas on drug related charges.

Young rebuked Hoyte, telling her that was no reason to break the law.

“Put the child in day-care and find some hard work to do. Don’t come back to me with this.”

“We have to leave a legacy.”

One of the defendant’s sisters who was present in the courtroom pleaded with Young not to send her sister to jail, and promised to ensure that Hoyte pays whatever fine was imposed.

Hoyte was fined $1000 to be paid in three months or in default, she faces six months in jail.(JJ)