prison in Supreme Court yesterday.

Frederick William Smith, 60, has lost his career, his reputation, and his family, court was told.

The former financial comptroller at Baptiste Builders Supply Ltd. admitted he used a variety of methods to steal money from the company between 1989 and 1994.

He bought overseas bank drafts payable to himself and his wife, paid himself extra salary, charged personal expenses to company accounts, and credited company refunds to his personal accounts, among other methods.

Smith, who is Welsh, pleaded for mercy before receiving sentence from Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ground.

"If the law is meant to correct the imbalance caused by wrongdoing, I believe in my case ... the imbalance has been more than rectified,'' Smith told court.

But Crown Counsel Mr. Peter DeJulio said Smith's case involved a breach of trust and his sentence had to deter others.

Smith's lawyer, Mr. Mark Pettingill, noted his client's "distinguished career'' in the British military, fighting in the Korean War and receiving seven medals, holding the rank of sergeant major. He also served in the Sultan of Oman as a lieutenant colonel, receiving Oman's highest award for loyalty, Mr. Pettingill said.

Now, his wife had recently divorced him and it was his daughter that brought his offences to the attention of his employer.

And there had been "a vindictive campaign by parties in Bermuda to assure it is well-known overseas, as well as in Bermuda, what Mr. Smith has done,'' Mr.

Pettingill said.

For the last four and a half years, Smith had been suffering from depression which "may have contributed to his lack of reasoning in committing this offence.'' He felt "deep regret and remorse,'' and planned to make restitution, Mr.

Pettingill said.

Mr. Pettingill asked the judge to consider Smith's guilty plea, the assistance he gave Police and the Crown, his advanced age and medical condition, and his previously clean record.

"Mr. Smith is in a very real sense a man who has lost it all,'' he said.

"There is very little your lordship can do by way of punishment.''