The attacker who punched Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxine McClean in the face before fleeing with her bag and money, will spend the next eight weeks on remand pending sentencing.
Ansley Lamar Worrell, 30, of Woodbourne Park, St Philip, appeared in the District “A” Traffic Court Saturday and confessed that he robbed the former senator of her handbag, two purses, two cellular phones and a remote car key, and that he assaulted McClean occasioning her actual bodily harm on February 10.
McClean was at the Royal Bank of Canada ATM around 3:30 p.m. when she noticed a man, dressed in all black, with his face completely covered approaching the door. She had just made a withdrawal and had her bag over her left shoulder.
She started to scream since she believed he was up to no good and the man entered, punched her on the left side of the face, dragged her bag from her shoulder and ran.
Subsequent investigations led to Worrell, who handed over a cellphone. He took police to a bushy area in Brighton, St George, where they found McClean’s handbag. Her second cellphone and money were not recovered.
He also admitted to the charge that knowing payment of $147 was required on the spot for gas, he dishonestly made off from Sol Service Station without paying on December 24 and that he stole a vehicle licence plate belonging to George Knight on that same date.
Worrell also faced charges, in the jurisdiction of District “B”, of fraudulent use of a licence plate on Oistins Road on January 6 and dishonestly making off from Esso Oistins without paying for gas on that same date. He was also charged, in District C’s jurisdiction, with possession of cannabis on March 7.
His attorney Shadia Simpson, in applying for Worrell’s release pending sentencing, stressed that he was a first-time offender who had pleaded guilty.
“That shows that he is willing to accept the consequences of his actions,” she told the court Saturday. She said Worrell could be released with any number of restrictions to guarantee his attendance for his sentencing.
But Magistrate Graveney Bannister stressed Worrell had a series of offences from December to March.
“Little is known about him because he is not known. We don’t know if he will turn up for his sentencing,” the magistrate said.
He ordered a pre-sentencing report on Worrell and remanded him to HMP Dodds until April 6.
The magistrate further transferred the District “C” matter to the District “C” St Matthias Magistrates’ Court for March 13, and the District “B” matters to the Oistins Magistrates’ Court for March 14.
Prosecutor Sergeant Vernon Waithe, who outlined the facts on the other guilty pleas, said motorist Knight parked his car at a Sol Service Station and went to a meeting. When he returned, his daughter checked the car and noticed the rear registration plate E 3584 was gone.
The prosecutor further said Worrell subsequently drove into the service station using a vehicle with the stolen registration plate, and asked the attendant to fill the tank. The attendant did so to the cost of $147 and, as she closed the tank, Worrell drove off without paying. (HLE)
