Habitual thief, Jason Sinclair Liburd, was jailed for two years yesterday for robbery.

Liburd, 34, currently serving a two-year sentence at Westgate for a similar offence, will begin his most recent two year sentence after the current one expires.

Chief Justice Richard Ground also gave Liburd three years probation and ordered Liburd to have drug testing done and refrain from drinking alcohol.

Liburd was also ordered to partake in the ASAP programme, Contextual Family therapy, Cognitive Behaviour programme, and vocational assessment while in custody.

Crown counsel Graveny Bannister told the Court that on September 22, 2003 Liburd asked for money from the complainant Carleen Marie Currie, which she gave him.

He asked for more money and she opened her wallet and gave him more. She continued walking down North Shore Road and entered her yard, where she was approached by the defendant. He grabbed her wallet and ran towards his cycle.

The court heard that good Samaritan, Christopher Thomas stopped Liburd and managed to make him drop the wallet which Ms Currie then picked up. However, the defendant escaped on his cycle.

Mr. Bannister told the court that Ms Currie suffered discomfort to her knee in the ordeal.

Liburd's criminal record was read to the court which included a slew of stealing convictions in Bermuda and one abroad. The court also heard Liburd has a conviction for armed robbery,for which he served four years in prison.

Mr. Bannister said Liburd had a history of drug abuse and he recommended that Chief Justice Ground give a sentence that is a deterrent.

Defence lawyer Victoria Pearman said that her client never ran away from his actions and never intended to do anything more than take Ms Currie's wallet.

Liburd's abysmal record is fuelled by his drug addiction, said Ms Pearman.

She added that he does not use his addiction as an excuse but that the court must take it into consideration.

Ms Currie's impact statement said that her wallet contained $40 or $50 dollars and various cards.

In a lengthy speech to the court Liburd said that he was sorry for stealing and that Ms Currie should not have had to go through that "frightening experience".

He asked Mr. Justice Ground not to put him back at Westgate because he is given everything there and not made to pay his way, which he feels he needs to learn how to do.

Mr. Justice Ground wished Liburd well after sentencing him to two years in prison and three years probation.

He commended Mr. Thomas's bravery and said so few people would have done what he did. Mr. Thomas was awarded a Bravery Award at Government House last year.

He told the The Royal Gazette at the time: "I just felt it was something I had to do."