ANNA-DEE Galimore of Runaway Bay in St Ann was this week spared a prison term for uttering forged documents in an attempt to get to Canada, following her attorney’s ardent pleas for mercy and a description of her as one of society’s ‘economic refugees’.

Instead she was fined $20,000 or six months behind bars.

When the case was brought before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court, 29 year-old Galimore pleaded guilty to the charge against her. Her attorney, Clive Mullings, proceeded to describe her as a woman who had felt she had no alternative but to go overseas if she was to continue to provide for her two young sons.

“She is a young woman who at this point is unemployed (and) faced with taking care of 10 and three year-old boys, whose father do not contribute,” Mullings told the court.

“On three occasions she has gone to the US Embassy, which proved unsuccessful and this was her last-ditch effort to go to what she saw as greener pastures.”

The attorney added that while her offence was serious, he was glad she had not resolved to drug smuggling to earn money, like so many in recent times and asked the court to be mindful of this.

“Your honour, I ask you not to send her to prison. By this act, this leap for betterment, she has set herself back,” Mullings said.

“Your honour, I ask you to be merciful,” he added, saying that his client was among the ‘economic refugees’ of our time.

Presiding magistrate, Valerie Stephens, responded that she would be cognisant of all that had been said in handing down her sentence.

“It is to your credit Miss Galimore that unlike some of the women that have come before the court, you did not resort to swallowing cocaine,” the magistrate said.

The magistrate added, however, that her offence was one that would make it difficult for her to travel should she wish to do so in future. And she said that the conviction against her name meant there would be no more second chances for her where breaches of the law were concerned.

“This is your first and last chance Miss Galimore. You are going to have to find some means to make a living here,” judge Stephens said. “I know it’s not easy but you are going to find some means, some lawful means.”

She then fined her $20,000.