A St Catherine mechanic appeared in court last week accused of trying to drive away a motor car belonging to a patron at a popular oldies party at Mas Camp in Kingston.

Ian Watson, who was arrested at the party, named ‘Footloose’, on August 25, and charged with larceny of a motor vehicle, was offered $400,000 bail when he appeared in court on Tuesday after Judge Maxine Ellis was informed that he was suffering from a respiratory infection.

“You really don’t want to have people sleeping on the cold ground with that condition,” the judge said after offering bail on condition that Watson report to the Bog Walk Police Station daily and observe a 6:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew.

A medical report had been requested by the judge on the previous occasion the accused man appeared in court and after his attorney, Sheldon Campbell, asked the judge to consider bail for his client on humanitarian grounds, stating that he had lost consciousness more than once since being in custody.

When the matter came up last week the judge was told by the police that Watson had been diagnosed with a lower respiratory infection after visiting a doctor.

The court heard that on the night in question, while the party was in progress, the complainant heard an announcement over the sound system about a car and went to check on his car. The complainant reportedly went to the spot where he had parked his car but realised that it was not there.

The complainant spoke to a cop who was at the party and was told that a man was caught attempting to steal his car.

Watson was reportedly seen trying to push the vehicle through the gate but was stopped by the police and could not properly account for the vehicle.

The allegations were, however, denied by his lawyer.

Campbell told the court that his client was never in the complainant’s vehicle. Instead, he was leaving the party in his own car when he saw the complainant’s car in the way. He got out of his car to enquire why the other vehicle was not moving when the police held him.

The lawyer said his client never got a chance to explain anything to the police.

The investigating officer, however, told the court that Watson did not have any car on the the scene.

“Don’t you think if there was a motor vehicle that he owns on the scene the police would know that?” Parish Judge Maxine Ellis asked Campbell.

“I can only assume,” the lawyer replied.

Watson is scheduled to return to court for trial on March 18 next year.