A man who used a toy gun to rob a neighbourhood store was sentenced to five years in prison in Supreme Court.

Jay C. Ming, 23, of St. Monica's Road, Pembroke, was described on Thursday as a young athlete whose promising future was destroyed by drugs.

On December 2, he entered Jones Dry Goods Store on Glebe Road, Pembroke, and aimed a toy gun at 80-year-old saleswoman Lilla Tucker, Senior Crown Counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun told Court.

One could imagine her "absolute terror,'' Mr. Calhoun told Chief Justice the Hon. Austin Ward.

The woman ran screaming from the store. Ming, unable to open the cash register, left empty-handed.

"When the Police arrived at the scene a group of youths directed them to the defendant's residence, where another angry group had formed outside,'' Mr.

Calhoun said. "The defendant telephoned the Police to seek assistance from this group and was arrested upon the arrival of the Police at his residence.'' Ming confessed to the crime and helped Police recover the fake gun, described as having a yellow trigger and a see-through plastic handle.

Ming, who was unemployed at the time of the offence, is single and has a young daughter. Court was told he has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1987, with numerous convictions for break and enter and theft.

"I would submit that Mr. Ming is a victim of the drug epidemic that has taken over in this Country,'' said his lawyer, Mr. Mark Pettingill.

Ming had played first division football and represented Bermuda overseas in athletics. As a senior in secondary school, he was scouted by American colleges for scholarships to play football and run track.

"Drugs ruined his life and he is cognizant that he ruined his life because of drugs,'' Mr. Pettingill said of his client. "All those hopes and dreams have gone by the way.'' But Ming wanted to tackle his problem, and "it is hoped when he comes out of prison, he will still be young.'' As well as short stints in prison, Ming has been given probation, counselling, community service orders, and suspended sentences.

"He has been given every conceivable break by the courts,'' Mr. Calhoun said.

It was an "encouraging'' sign that Ming was brought to justice with the help of a community that had "had enough,'' he said.

Mr. Justice Ward agreed, and said he hoped the Police Commissioner would reward William Edward Davis and Malik Outerbridge with commendations.

"I'm not a bad person trying to be good -- I'm a sick person trying to be better,'' Ming said from the prisoner's dock. "I want to be able to leave jail and be productive in society.'' After recent amendments to the Criminal Code, carrying an imitation firearm with criminal intent carries a minimum penalty of five years. Ming was also sentenced to 18 months, to be served concurrently, for attempted robbery.