Janet Ward-Powell, 55, pastor of a church in Portmore, St Catherine, was arrested after she was told to desist from her boisterous preaching and religious teachings.

Ward-Powell, who appeared in the petty sessions court, pleaded guilty to behaving in a noisy manner and disorderly conduct, and also resisting arrest when she was given a lawful order to desist. The court heard that Ward-Powell, who had a relative in court, had been seen outside preaching and calling down fire from heaven to burn up the court and the people.

"Fire fi dem. Dem can't do mi nothing, see one of dem deh," Ward-Powell said when an officer of the court walked past her. The arresting officer told the lay magistrate that she had been familiar with church and that what Ward-Powell was doing could not be considered as preaching.

Nevertheless, the lay magistrate said that since the accused was not using language considered calumnious she should apologise and desist from her behaviour. The lay magistrate also told her that as a woman of the cloth, she should exercise forgiveness and mercy since Jesus had done the same.