he was seeking help for his addiction.

In an impassioned plea, Akeem Israel told Acting Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner "the system'' had helped him see that he was suffering with his addiction.

Israel, of Burnt House Hill, Warwick, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and drug equipment on August 28 in the parking lot next door to the Anchorage Bar in Devonshire.

Crown counsel Leighton Rochester said Israel told Police "I am an addict G'' shortly after they watched him pull a brown paper bag out of the driver's window of a private car and throw it underneath.

The contents were later found to be 0.006 grams of 65 percent pure heroin. A spoon and a syringe were found to have traces of cocaine on them.

Once inside Hamilton Police Station a further 0.008 grams of heroin -- properly called diamorphine -- was found on Israel after a search.

Mr. Rochester said Israel, whose age is not known, did not have any prior convictions.

"It is time for me to get my act together,'' Israel said in mitigation. "The system has helped me in a lot of ways... I am doing a lot better.'' In response, Mr. Warner said: "How is the system helping you? If I lock you up, you will be helped.'' Israel said he had been taking his "medication'', implying he had been prescribed Methadone to deal with his problem.

He also remarked: "I need a roof over my head. All of this will be in the newspaper and I don't need any more problems.'' But Mr. Warner interjected: "Who's fault is that.'' Later, Israel claimed to be attending Focus Counselling Services for his addiction.

"If I wasn't caught, I would have continued using (drugs),'' Israel said.

"It's time for a change. The system has helped me pay attention to my problem. The only person I was hurting was myself.'' He was fined $500 for possession of heroin and $200 for possession of drug equipment. The fines must be paid by January 31.