Tourist pays dearly for kicking bin

A British citizen was ordered to make compensation, after she damaged a receptacle bin at one of the island's airports.

Jordann Doyle pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

It was reported that on October 13 at the Norman Manley International Airport, Doyle was to board her flight to the Heathrow Airport in London when she was told that the flight had already departed. Doyle kicked a garbage receptacle twice, leaving a dent in it. A representative of the airport told Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks that the bin is priced at US$1,725 (approximately J$264,977) and has to be imported.

Doyle told the court that on the day of the incident, she had offered to repay the airport US$1,500 (approximately J$230,415) but the airport's representative indicated that it was the first she was hearing of the offer. Doyle said that she has never been in trouble before.

"I don't have that amount of money any more and I was thinking maybe we could come to an agreement less than that because it seems a lot for the bin. I wish I had my phone to show you. It's not that much damage to the bin. I only kicked it twice," Doyle explained.

She added that she only had PS1,000 (approximately J$211,030) in her possession, which was to purchase a return ticket. She then offered to repay J$10,000 for the damage.

"Under the law, I can fine you up to three times the amount for the damage. So, as far as I am concerned, you saying guilty allows me to be lenient. In other words, I don't have to make you pay them back for it, I can just fine you and sentence you. Do you understand? Believe it or not, you have committed a criminal offence," Crooks said.

Following an in-court mediation session, the offer was settled at US$1,200 and Doyle repaid J$150,000 in court for the damages. She was admonished and discharged.