week sentenced in Supreme Court to a period of corrective training, with a recommendation from Chief Justice Austin Ward that the youth be held at least two years.

Dwayne Andre Coddington pleaded guilty last month to charges of robbing a 13-year-old White's Supermarket bagboy at knifepoint; of assaulting while attempting to rob with the same knife a woman walking with companions along the Railway Trail; and attempting to rob a taxi driver using a knife. The offences occurred between January 31 and February 1, in Warwick Parish.

Juliana Jack, representing Coddington, appealed to the Court on Monday to consider Coddington's age and the relatively "amateurish-way'' in which the crimes were carried out. She also impressed upon Mr. Justice Ward to bear in mind Coddington's social condition at the time of the offences.

"He felt hungry, he was homeless, he was living in an abandoned truck,'' she said, adding that her client had previously left home because he was unable to get along with his father and had no job at the time.

Meanwhile the youth, currently in corrective training for unlawfully removing a cycle last year, has been excelling at maths, English and mechanics and was benefiting from a mentoring programme, she said.

"This is no seasoned criminal'' and Westgate was no place for him, said Ms Jack.

Crown Counsel Wilhelm Bourne told the Court that on the evening of January 31, 13-year-old Stephen Bailey had just finished his shift at White's Supermarket when he was stopped by Coddington, who asked him to lend him a dollar.

After Bailey handed over a $1-coin, Coddington reached into his pocket, pulled out a knife, and put Bailey into a headlock.

He subsequently robbed the youth of his day's earning as well as a gold chain, worth a total of $195. When the youth requested at least money for bus fare, Coddington handed over 50 cents.

Coddington struck next on the morning of February 1, grabbing Diana Chudleigh from behind as she was walking along the Railway Trail with a group of friends.

Holding a knife to her throat, Coddington threatened to kill her if the group did not hand over their money. Members of group tried to reason with him, saying they were collecting garbage along the trail and had no money. At that point Coddington gave up and fled.

Later that evening Coddington attempted to rob taxi driver Gregory Smith, but was chased off.

Coddington was picked up a short time later sitting on the wall along Middle Road in Warwick and admitted the crimes.

After weighing all the mitigating factors and taking into account the public's need for protection, Mr. Justice Ward agreed a corrective sentence was appropriate; while corrective training is for an indeterminant period of time, he recommended Coddington be held for two years.