A POLICEMAN who had 32 years service in the police force wept yesterday after he lost his appeal against his conviction and 12-month prison sentence for a breach of the Corruption Prevention Act.

He is Constable Barrington Williams who was attached to the Falmouth Police Station. He was convicted in November 2004 for accepting US$250 not to prosecute a motorist on a charge of careless driving.

Williams, who was on bail pending the outcome of his appeal, was in court yesterday when his appeal was dismissed. He was taken into custody to start serving the sentence.

Resident Magistrate Divine Hall-Brevet convicted Williams in November 2004 after she found that Williams had accepted the money from a motorist.

The motor car was also seized and taken to the Falmouth Police Station.

The motorist, Bighorn Brown, testified that in August 2001, Williams approached him and said he needed money to buy food and he told him he did not have any money at the time. He said Williams told him to drive to the police station and on the way Williams stopped him and gave him a ticket for careless driving.

He said Williams told him that he should pay him $15,000 and he would not prosecute him. He said some days later, he paid Williams US$250.

The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr. Justice Algerian Smith, Mr. Justice Howard Cooke and Mr. Justice Karl Harrison, found that the Resident Magistrate had not erred in her findings and also ruled that the sentence was not manifestly excessive.