pending a social inquiry report after admitting to stealing $274 from the restaurant.

John E. Thompson, 38, of Wellington Slip Road, pleaded guilty to the charge in Magistrates' Court.

Prosecuting, Sgt. Wilburt McLean told the court that between 11 p.m on November 18 and 2 a.m. the following day Thompson, who was working in the restaurant, used a knife to force open the register on four different occasions.

After being arrested, he told Police he had taken the money because he was approached by three men who threatened to beat him if he did not pay them back money he owed.

Duty Counsel Mr. Tim Marshall said: "The underlying problem is a cocaine addiction. He has been accepted in a rehabilitation programme in the US but because he is on the "stop list'' he is unable to get to the programme.''