Pregnant woman admits to using drugs

Aisha Carolann Clarke, of Park Road, Bush Hall, St Michael, admitted to Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick that on May 5, she unlawfully had 4.35 grammes of cocaine in her possession, and had a traffickable quantity of it which she intended to supply and having apparatus fit for use in connection with the misuse of cannabis, all on May 5.

Carrying out operations

Constable Cheryl Thompson told the Criminal Court No.1 of the District “A” Magistrates’ Court that on the date police were carrying out operations at Bellevue, St Michael, when they saw people gathered in and outside of a shop. As they approached there was a strong scent of burnt cannabis. Police officers stopped and searched Clarke’s bag, and came across nine small zip lock bags containing a white powdery substance.

When she was asked to account for it, Clarke told the officers she was aware she had it, but it was for the purpose of soothing a toothache she had. However, the grinder they also found in her possession was for her to grind weed with, she told the court yesterday.

Clarke, who is not known to the court, explained that she has had a toothache for the past few months and was supposed to get a root canal. The day police found her with the substance, it was her first time buying cocaine, she said.

“Wow! You don’t have much luck at all,” the Chief Magistrate responded.

In relation to the grinder, the court wanted to know if Clarke was selling drugs, but she insisted she was not.

“Did you go to a dentist?” he continued.

“Yes please,” the woman replied. “And the dentist gave you a prescription to buy this?” the court asked.

Self-medicating

“No please,” Clarke chuckled.

“So you’re self-medicating, then? You went to school … you know the dangers of cocaine. Why would

you do that to your unborn child?” he questioned.

Clarke explained that she just wanted “a little in the tooth to stop the pain”.

Since she had pleaded guilty early and was not known to the court, the Chief Magistrate ordered a presentencing report on Clarke. He also informed the woman that he was not buying her “story”.

“At your age, anytime you have a problem with your teeth, you go to the dentist. If you’re telling me lies, it will be prison – to protect you and the baby. So now is the time to come clean,” the court warned her.

The Chief Magistrate informed Clarke that the report will give details about her lifestyle.

Clarke insisted she was telling the truth.

The court also spoke to Clarke’s mother, and asked her to state what type of help her daughter needed, with a view to rehabilitation.

“She needs to come off the drugs,” the mother answered.

“Do you know about cocaine – what it does to people?” he asked Clarke’s mother.

“I know it is very dangerous stuff,” she replied.

“They’re men who had a good past, but they used cocaine and now they’re eating out of garbage cans. That is what cocaine does to people. She (the daughter) can still be saved,” he said.

Clarke was released on $2 000 bail until June 17 when the matter comes up again.