THE DAMAGE DONE to the Bank of Montreal by a fire early Dec. 27 is shown in this photograph, taken shortly affer the fire. A Sidney youth charged with starting the fire went on trial in Sidney provincial court Thursday. That final motorcycle ride costs man $300 fine A final tum on his motorcycle before the insurance expired cost a Sidney man $300 in Sidney pro- vincial court Thursday after he pleaded guilty to driving while his license was suspended. James Alexander Preston, 23, was stopped by Sidney police shortly before midnight Jan. 31 while riding his motorcycle in an industrial area off Henry Avenue. Defence lawyer Duncan Boan said Preston was almost at the end of a month-long license suspen- sion when he decided to take the motorcycle out for a last drive before the insurance expired that night. Preston did not have enough money to renew the insurance, so believed it would be his last chance to ride the motorcycle for some time, Boan said. The license suspension ended February 4, Boan added. “Tt was a young man’s lapse of judgment in this one instance,” Boan said, adding that Preston was stopped by police close to his home in Sidney.. Preston is working full-time and plans to move closer to his job in Victoria, Boan said. Judge Ralph Hudson imposed the minimum $300 fine and the mandatory six-month suspension. Warming up in bank leads to trial A youth who lit a pamphlet while in the Bank of Montreal to warm-up just after Christmas went on trial for arson before Judge Ralph Hudson in Sidney provin- cial court Thursday. The early moming fire Dec. 27 caused an estimated $25,000 dam- age to the bank and automated banking machine. Four teenage witnesses testified they and the accused youth entered the Bank of Montreal on Beacon Avenue around midnight Dec. 26 to get warm after meeting on the Sidney beach. One of the teenagers used his mother’s bank card to gain access to the foyer containing the automated banking machine. One witness said the accused and the other youths had been drinking, consuming five to six bottles of beer each. The accused youth lit one of the bank pamphlets with a cigarette lighter and held the pamphlet until it was almost extinguished before dropping it to the floor, two of the witnesses testified. Three of the teenagers left the Bank of Montreal, followed by the accused youth and one other youth a minute later. They stopped briefly in the Toronto Dominion Bank foyer, then went to the 7- Eleven store for snacks and to rent a movie. After leaving the store, they noticed the bank was on fire. The teenagers testified that the accused youth was surprised and upset by the blaze. “He said something, I think, to the effect of “Oh my God, what have I done?’’ one teenager recalled. “The group walked downthe street, watched the fire then went to a friend’s home. Defense lawyer Jeremy Carr suggested a youth who had remained behind in the bank with the defendant had thrown newspa- pers from a box near the door on to the buming pamphlet. The youth denied the allegation. Sidney fire inspector Larry rise Sidney fk ANS Service ra tecs Above poo) Self Call for more information CLASSIFIEDS THAT SELL: GUARANTEED! ‘656-1151 The, Review Full and Half Day Pre-School Programs for children 3 to 5 years Opening in September Montessori Society ji of Sidney 10345 Bowerbank Road \ ae \ \ Information......656-3214 \ A= Pacific Montessori Society TheReview Buchanan said the source of the fire was a pile of newspapers under the automatic banking machine. He doubted a pamphlet could start the same type of blaze. A slightly burned pamphlet was also found in the Toronto Domin- ion Bank. Sidney RCMP Cpl. Joseph Ger- ich said he was called to the fire about 10: minutes after 12 mid- night. Through the bank door he Parkland Graduation Celebration Wednesday, May 16,1990 — A12 Jazz Band, Casino Video Dancing, Magician, Dunk Tank Mocktail Bar, and More SOON iy saw flames and a pile of papers at the base of the banking machine. “Tr was amazing how fast the® fire accelerated,” he said. The trial will continue in Vic-} toria provincial court May 22. GOODWILL ENTERPRISES for the Handicapped MEN'S WOMEN'S |f CHILDREN’S 4 SHORTS T-SHIRTS SWEATSHIRTS 1 [2 PRICE HANDBAGS 50” orr PUZZLES/GAMES 1 /2 PRICE TUESDAY IS SENIOR'S DAY 40% off HOUSEWARES 20% off CLOTHING (REGULAR PRICES) Thank you for your support 9775 3rd Street f Sidney 655-3384 LOOKING FOR J OMAEIEELING DIFFERENT? | SIDNEY HOBBYCRAFT, REVELL, FUJIMI, ITALERI, MATCHBOX, MONOGRAM, AMT, ACADEMY, TAMIYA, & MORE! SPECIAL ORDERS WELCOME BEACON & 3RD ST. 656-4748 a 4 SEE US TODAY FOR A GREAT SELECTION OF MODEL KITS. e We sell HASEGAWA, AIRFIX, 2 SALES LEADERS BRIAN McQUARRIE | PEMBERTON | HOLMES=2 sRVID CHALMERS DOROTHY MOORE BILL WALTERS SIDNEY 656-0911 VICTORIA 384-8124 SALTSPRING ISL. , 537-5568