after being convicted of dodging army duty.

Michael Clemens and Raymond Burgess were both sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty on Thursday to a string of no-shows at Warwick Camp.

But Magistrate Arthur Hodgson suspended the prison terms in both cases for two years.

The court heard that Clemens failed to report for duty 26 times between November, 1997 and April 15 this year.

After reading a social inquiry report, magistrate Arthur Hodgson sentenced Clemens to a suspended jail term.

Clemens, 20, of Mount Hill, Pembroke, said: "I know I broke a law. I feel you should have the right to choose to be in the Regiment.'' But Mr. Hodgson told Clemens: "Once there is a law, you abide by it. Or face the consequences.'' In April -- after Clemens claimed to be a conscientious objector -- Senior Magistrate Will Francis told him he should have taken his case to an exemption tribunal instead of staying away.

Mr. Hodgson also sentenced Burgess to six-months in prison suspended for two years, after reading his social inquiry report.

Burgess, 19, of Hillview Road, Warwick, failed to report for duty on 14 occasions between 23 October and February 3 this year.

MAN ADMITS SEXUALLY ASSAULTING EIGHT-YEAR-OLD CTS Man admits sexually assaulting eight-year-old A Pembroke man who sexually assaulted his 8-year-old nephew has been released on $15,000 bail pending a social inquiry report.

The 26-year-old man pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court on Friday to touching a child for sexual means with his body and inviting a child to touch him.

Crown Council Lesley Basden told the court that both offences occurred between March 1 and September 19, 1997 while the defendant was living with his sister, the child's mother.

When the child stayed at his mother's house, he was often cared for by his uncle.

The sexual advances accurred when the child slept on the couch with the man or while the mother was at work. Instances of sexual abuse became so frequent that the young victim began to initiate the sexual activity.

On September 19 at 8 a.m. the mother entered the living room to find the defendant lying on top of the child moving his pelvic area.

He was interviewed twice at Community and Juvenile Services during which time he apologised for his actions and expressed the hope for forgiveness.

Duty council Tyrone Chin said that as a child the defendant had been "bounced from foster home to foster home''.

Chin also explained that from the age of eight the defendant had been sexually abused in those foster homes.

The case will return to court on August 14.

MOTHER TURNS IN SON FOR GROWING CANNABIS CTS Mother turns in son for growing cannabis A single mother "who has had enough' refused to post bail for her cannabis-growing 17-year-old son last week.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis later remanded her son, Steven Guy Burchall, in custody after he pleaded guilty to growing cannabis.

Mr. Francis heard the woman called the Police at 9.15 p.m. on May 11 to her Tribe Road Number 1, Warwick, home where they were shown a cannabis plant growing under a lamp.

When Burchall appeared, he admitted the plant was his.

Mr. Francis listened to Burchall's mother before remanding the student at the Co-Educational Facility in Ferry Reach, St. George's until July 22.

Mr. Francis asked that a social inquiry report be ready in three weeks instead of the customary six before sentencing Burchall.

The woman told Mr. Francis: "He will have to find someone else to bail him.

I'm a single mother -- who's had enough.'' "He needs to see the seriousness of this,'' Mr. Francis added. "He needs to see there are people that will deal with him more severely than you can.'' Mr. Francis told Burchall: "She loves you but she is fed up to the gills. I mean she could have been charged!'' DRUGS OFFENCE NEAR SCHOOL DRAWS HEAVY FINE CTS Drugs offence near school draws heavy fine Using drugs near a nursery school cost a 20-year-old Pembroke man an additional $1,000 on top his $100 fine.

Andrew Rocha, of Hillsdale Avenue, pleaded guilty on Friday in Magistrates' Court to possessing cannabis.

Crown counsel Lesley Basden said Police went to Kings Court in Pembroke around 9.45 p.m. on April 23 where they found Rocha standing 25 metres away from Little Lamb's Nursery.

Rocha, who was seen putting an object into his front left pocket was searched and an envelope containing 0.72 grams of cannabis was found.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis said the case was serious because it occurred close to a nursery school.

The defendant pointed out the offence occurred at night when the school was closed.

"I don't care whether it's midnight or three o'clock in the morning,'' Mr.

Francis said. "Make sure you are well away from schools and youth clubs when possessing drugs.'' Mr. Francis fined Rocha $100 for possessing the cannabis and $1000 for being in the vicinity of a school.

AMERICAN VISITORS FINED $600 FOR DRUG OFFENCES CTS American visitors fined $600 for drug offences Possessing drugs and drug equipment cost an American couple visiting on the Song of America $600 in fines on Friday.

Jeffrey Annunziata, 36, of New York pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to possessing cannabis, drug equipment, and cannabis resin and was fined $350.

His wife, Rose Annunziata, 32, pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, and drug equipment and was fined $250.