The desire to flee a violent community is what Judy Thomas said encouraged her to attempt to leave the island with a fraudulent passport.

When Thomas, a 31-year-old cosmetologist, appeared before RM Martin Gayle, she pleaded guilty to forgery and uttering forged documents, telling the court: "My life is so hard, I live in the garrison. It's dreadful ... Dem kill mi bredda." Before pleading guilty, however, Thomas told the court that she did not forge the passport because she did not change the picture. She, however, admitted to the offence after RM Gayle explained to her why she was charged.

She later revealed that she had attempted to travel with her sister's passport. When RM Gayle asked if they were identical twins, she replied, "No your honour, but wi fava."

The facts are that on December 12 at about 2:45 p.m., Thomas presented a British passport in the name Tanya Marie Phillips. Close observation of the document revealed that the picture was that of a different individual. She was questioned and eventually admitted that the passport did not belong to her.

On the forgery charge, she was fined $10,000 or six months and for uttering forged documents, she was given a nine-month sentence suspended for two years. After hearing the sentence, Thomas happily said, "Thank you very much your honour, happy new year."