Six months' imprisonment suspended for two years was the sentence handed down to a man who pleaded guilty to beating his sister with a rake recently.

He is 37-year-old Michael Banton who was sentenced in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

bodily harm

Banton has been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

He was ordered to submit his fingerprints to the police.

The court heard that Banton, who was in a dispute with his sister, used a rake to beat her in her back causing pain, bruises and swelling.

When asked by the presiding judge why he had beaten his sister, Banton, who could hardly speak, said his sister had damaged his property and rushed him with a knife.

Resident Magistrate (RM) Stephanie Jackson-Haisley gave the accused a strong warning upon the request of the complainant that he should not interfere with with her.

The RM also emphasised to Banton that if he should get in anymore trouble with the law he would serve prison time.