Biting the hand that fed him has earned a crack addict a one-year prison sentence.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis threw the book at Clifton Fredrick Weller after hearing he beat 80-year-old Eugene Todd in his bedroom and robbed him of $700.

Mr. Francis told Weller the crime was "very serious'' and he was very lucky not to be sentenced in a higher court.

"I have to consider you so terrorised this old man that he wouldn't go to the hospital,'' Mr. Francis said. "But I take into account your guilty plea and the submissions by the duty counsel.'' He added: "Twelve months for each count and you're lucky because they will be served concurrently. There is also a strong recommendation for drug treatment.'' Weller pleaded guilty to breaking and entering Mr. Todd's home, assaulting him and causing bodily harm, and stealing $700.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Gordon said Weller did maintenance work at various houses for Mr. Todd and drove him and his mentally retarded son for errands to grocery stores, the bank and other business.

Weller is 45 and lives at Cobb's Hill Road with his mother and brother.

He held the keys to his neighbour's home and car and had permission to keep the car for days at a time.

But yesterday Weller admitted that one night between May 25 and June 12 he broke into Mr. Todd's home, cut the electrical power, and entered the elderly man's bedroom.

Mr. Todd was awakened by his barking dog and shouted Weller's name in surprise, but did not receive a reply.

Ms Gordon said Weller threw a blanket over Mr. Todd and beat him with his fists, eventually breaking Mr. Todd's two ribs and nose before taking the money out of his pocket.

She said Weller knew the elderly man would keep his money in his pants pockets when sleeping at night.

In addition, Weller had taken Mr. Todd to the bank on May 25 and knew he had received several thousand dollars in cash.

Ms Gordon said Mr. Todd had been intimidated by the incident and did not call Police. They were eventually alerted by a friend and the man was reluctant to be tended to and also talk to Police.

When he was arrested last week, Weller told Police: "Robbery? Who would be bad enough to rob Todd?'' But the next day in Somerset Police Station, Weller -- wearing boots with Mr.

Todd's blood on them -- made a full admission and said he used all the money in just a few hours to buy cocaine for his habit.

He also said he had continued to visit Mr. Todd.

In mitigation, duty counsel Victoria Pearman said aside from the incident Weller did not have a violent disposition and said he was willing to repay the stolen money.

"It is an unfortunate situation and it appears to be biting the hand that feeds him,'' Ms Pearman said. "Unfortunately the scourge of drugs takes its toll on good people every day.'' Before Weller was taken away by Police to begin his sentence, Mr. Francis told Ms Pearman: "You have done as well as anyone could have in this case, Ms Pearman.''