National Housing Worker Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Modified Flare Gun

A 31-year-old man National Housing worker has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment after being found with a modified flare gun and ammunition.

Jeffers Jno-Baptiste from Pigotts Village entered guilty pleas to multiple charges when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Dexter Wason in St John’s Magistrates’ Court.

The charges included possession of a modified flare gun, possession of one .40 round of ammunition, and being armed with an offensive weapon – specifically a black and silver knife.

Reports state that on March 8, police officers responded to information that led them to the Stables nightclub. There, they observed a white Honda Fit parked on the southern side of the establishment. While Jno-Baptiste wasn’t in the vehicle at the time, another Pigotts Village resident was seated inside.

Upon seeing the approaching officers, the vehicle occupant discarded an item from a small shoulder bag. Police immediately detained him and conducted a search of the car, which revealed the modified flare gun and ammunition hidden near the lower dashboard panel. When questioned, the detained individual stated, “A one gun. A me partner gun.”

Officers subsequently located Jno-Baptiste on the western side of the nightclub. Although he initially denied knowledge of the illegal weapon, a search of his person revealed a knife in his right back pocket, leading to his arrest.

During court proceedings, Jno-Baptiste claimed he discovered the weapon while working in Paynters West. He told the court he had retained the modified flare gun rather than surrendering it to authorities because of past threats against his life.

The court ordered the weapon and ammunition confiscated and transferred to the police armoury.