Mannerly Petit Martinique man jailed for four years

Humble, forthright and mannerly were the words senior law practitioners used to describe accused Bradley McClean, a Petit Martinique man, who unfortunately found himself on the wrong side of the law and was sentenced to four years imprisonment on Wednesday.{{more}}

On Friday, April 22, McClean pleaded guilty to three charges: possession of 118 pounds of marijuana with intent to supply, possession of the said drug for the purpose of drug trafficking and attempting to export the drug. When he appeared before the court on Wednesday, the additional charge of entering the state by boat and disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer on April 21, at Chateaubelair, was laid to him, to which he also pleaded guilty.

“He is extremely forthright… It’s amazing,” Chief Magistrate Rechanne-Browne commented after McClean entered his plea.

On Monday, April 25, McClean asked that the court explain the charges laid to him before permanently entering a guilty plea. When the additional charge of disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer was laid to him, it erroneously stated April 15.

When the date was corrected, McClean pleaded guilty, admitting that he was apprehended on April 21, and that was the only time he entered the state by boat, an admission which surprised the court.

“You have really showcased exemplary manners,” the chief magistrate commented, complimenting McClean on his virtues.

When chief magistrate Browne-Matthias sought the advice of senior prosecutor Adolphus Delpesche in sentencing McClean, he recalled the judgement handed down in a previous case, to Jamal Grant, who had a far less amount of drugs.

According to Delpesche, the Justices of Appeal, who at the time included the late Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle, recommended that Grant should have been confined and fined.

Delpesche, however, noted that McClean pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

“To his credit he has been one of the most forthright defendants I have ever met, both as a police and a prosecutor,” the senior prosecutor said.

“I wish I could have done something more, but my hands are tied.”

The senior prosecutor recommended a custodial sentence; however, he promised that if McClean continues to behave himself, he will speak on his behalf.

In agreeing with the prosecutor, the chief magistrate further noted that McClean assisted the court when he didn’t have to and didn’t waste the court’s time.

Before sentencing the accused to four years imprisonment, the chief magistrate said she is saddened that he would have got himself into the ‘pickle’.

Browne-Matthias sentenced McClean to three years imprisonment with regards to the possession charge, four years for drug trafficking, three years for attempting to export the drug and three months for disembarking without the consent of an immigration officer. The sentences will run concurrently.

The chief magistrate further issued a removal order following the prison term and advised McClean to not get into such trouble again.(AS)