ENTERTAINER Sharon “Ruffian” Peterkin will be spending 13 years and nine months behind bars following a trial in the Gun Court Division of the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston on firearm charges.

The entertainer, who is now 59 years of age, was arrested in May 2023 and charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition after members of the Area Five Fugitive Apprehension Team, acting on intelligence, carried out a search at her Portmore, St Catherine, home.

The weapon — which had the serial number removed — was found along with a quantity of ganja during that search. Peterkin, however, was not tried for the substance, though initially charged in connection with it.

According to Detective Windell Reid, the investigator assigned to the case, Peterkin’s licensed firearm had been seized by the Firearm Licensing Authority during a probe into another incident. He said the 9mm firearm found on the premises was similar to the firearm she had been legally issued, but for the missing serial number.

According to the investigator, Peterkin, who pleaded not guilty, gave sworn evidence in her own defence during the trial which was presided over by Supreme Court judge, Justice Calys Wiltshire.

The self-proclaimed businesswoman told investigators that she was involved in the rental car business and also sold clothing.

The Area Five Fugitive Apprehension Team operates in partnership with other Jamaica Constabulary Force units to apprehend dangerous criminals islandwide.

According to Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake, the establishment of the Area Five Fugitive Apprehension Team was in response to the large number of perpetrators of violent crimes for whom case files have been completed and who are wanted for arrest.