Cannabis conviction lands “Battersea Bomber” in jail

June 2 2026

Former professional boxer Howard “Battersea Bomber” Eastman has been handed a four-year prison sentence after admitting to a cannabis-related offence before the New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

The 55-year-old appeared before Magistrate Michelle Matthias on Monday and pleaded guilty to having 265 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Eastman was taken into custody last Friday at Pitt Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, after police allegedly discovered the narcotic during an operation. He was originally charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Control Act.

While considering the matter, the court was informed that Eastman is currently unemployed, does not have a permanent residence, and has previously faced similar charges. Magistrate Matthias highlighted his history of repeat offences before imposing the sentence.

In addition to the 48-month custodial sentence, Eastman was ordered to pay a fine amounting to three times the street value of the cannabis seized.

Eastman was once among Guyana’s most prominent professional boxers. Over a career that spanned from 1994 to 2014, he represented the country internationally and built a reputation as one of Guyana’s most accomplished fighters.

The court also dealt with two other cannabis possession cases on the same day.

Eighteen-year-old fisherman Clarence Crawford of Islington Village, East Bank Berbice, received a one-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to possession of 195 grams of cannabis. The magistrate noted that Crawford was a first-time offender and took his age into consideration when determining the penalty.

He was also ordered to pay a fine equivalent to three times the value of the narcotic. The court encouraged the young man to use the period of incarceration to reassess his choices and pursue a more positive path.

Meanwhile, George Green, known as “Quamy,” a 39-year-old coconut vendor from Howard’s Alley, New Amsterdam, was sentenced to three years behind bars after admitting to possession of 193 grams of cannabis.

The court heard that Green had previous convictions. However, his sentence was reduced by one-third after he entered an early guilty plea. He was also fined three times the estimated value of the cannabis found in his possession.

Green was arrested at the corner of Main and Nicolay Streets in New Amsterdam.

Sergeant Clarke appeared for the prosecution in all three matters.