Though his common-law wife begged for mercy for him, it was not enough to spare Richard Thompson from a $5,000 fine or a 30-day jail sentence.

Thompson pleaded guilty to assault in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

The complainant told the court that Thompson attacked her at a shop in their community. She said he tore off her shirt and then pushed her into a fence.

She explained that he called her and told her to come to his home, and she refused. She said she later went there and saw an 18-year-old couple "doing some things," and chased them out. She said she took the key to the house and refused to hand it over to Thompson. He then came after her at the shop.

When she appeared in court, however, she told Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown that she wanted to "follow the voice of God" and do away with the charges. After hearing the allegations and Thompson's declaration that he had "nothing to say," Senior RM Brown handed down his sentence.