Anthony Pegus apparently takes his Rastafarian faith very seriously, so when he suspected the mother of his children was feeding them stew peas with pig's tail, he responded by punching out two of her teeth.

Pegus' displeasure and his subsequent actions landed him before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, where he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and unlawful wounding.

The facts are that on March 8 at about 11 a.m., both the complainant and Pegus were at home with their three children. The complainant and the children were reportedly planning to catch shrimp when one child said she wanted stewed peas with pig's tail for dinner. The complainant reportedly told the child that she could not get it that day because pig's tail is too expensive.

Complaint

Pegus apparently overheard the conversation and started an argument, accusing the complainant of feeding his child with pork. He then punched her in the mouth, causing her teeth to fall out. He also punched and kicked her all over her body. The complainant made a report to the police and Pegus was arrested and charged.

Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey was not amused by Pegus' actions and strongly reprimanded him. Although he apologised for his behaviour, his penitence was not enough to save him from jail. He was sentenced to 30 days' imprisonment at hard labour.

RM Pusey also vowed to take a stance against domestic abuse by punishing all men who come before the court for abusing women.