16-year-old held with drugs in school bag

STACY MOORE

A 16-year-old form five student of Hillview College yesterday appeared before a Chaguanas magistrate charged with having 5.4 grammes of marijuana in his school bag.

The matter was heard before senior magistrate Jo-Anne Connor.

The student of Enterprise, Chaguanas, who was arrested on Friday last while on his way to school, said he used the drugs to cope with the stress of studying.

He was accompanied by his father yesterday when he pleaded guilty to the charge.

In pleading on his behalf, attorney Sharon Ramoutar said the boy did not waste the courts’s time and confessed, at the first opportunity, to having the drug.

She said the student, who is studying Science subjects, was sorry for his actions and confessed to started using the drug some months after he entered form five.

Ramoutar said her client was also influenced by friends and gave into peer pressure. She said he is involved in extra-curricular activities such as football and tennis.

Connor, however, said he should know drugs and sports don’t mix.

Ramoutar said she was told by the boy’s father that he needs counselling and he is preparing to write the CSEC examinations in May/June.

The magistrate advised the father to enroll his son in classes at Narcotics Anonymous to get help.

The case was adjourned to March 14.