A tattoo artist?s three year probation sentence got off to a shaky start yesterday when two Prison Officers chased him down Front Street when he wandered off to get breakfast.

?I just wanted to get something to eat,? a visibly upset Tyrone Howard Darrell, 41, of Railway Trail, Sandys told breathless Prison Guards as they led him back to the Supreme Court Registry yesterday morning.

Less than ten minutes earlier in Supreme Court Darrell had been warned by Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons not to leave custody until he signed a probation order and reported to Court Services.

?He has spent 25 years of his life in prison but he said he is not institutionalised,? Crown counsel Graveney Bannister said.

Darrell pleaded guilty in Magistrates? Court in October, 2005 of breaking and entering, stealing and receiving stolen property but was sent up to a higher court for sentencing.

Mr. Bannister said Darrell entered David Brine?s home on January 18, 2005 through an unlocked upstairs window and stole $4,280 worth of jewellery.

Among Mr. Brine?s stolen property was a $40 square-diamond earring which Police found in Darrell?s ear on February 2, 2005.

The rest of the jewellery was not recovered, Mr. Bannister said.

On a second charge, Darrell admitted to stealing goods from the home of Bishop Goodwin Smith on January 26, including $2,700 in cash, a $500 watch, six gold rings valued at $290 and $10 cuff links.

Mr. Bannister said Police recovered the items from Darrell?s home on January 31 after he was spotted having several items of jewellery appraised at Eastwood Dickinson.

He also admitted to breaking into the home of John Van-Lowe on March 11, 2004 and assaulting Mr. Van-Lowe on the same date.

?His drug of choice is cocaine,? Mr. Bannister said.

Darrell first smoked cannabis with family members at nine years old, he said. ?He needs psychotherapy for unresolved childhood traumas,? Mr. Bannister said.

Defence lawyer Peter Farge said his client had turned his life around. ?Your Ladyship might find it appropriate as this is a New Year to give him a chance at a fresh start,? Mr. Farge said.

Darrell was also represented by Larry Scott who recommended a Drug Court Treatment Programme.

A Bermuda Assessment Referrals Centre (BARC) report recommended that Darrell be treated as an addiction outpatient.

Mrs. Justice Simmons scolded Darrell for being late to court, before handing down a three-year sentence of probation, with conditions of keeping a clean record, staying in touch with his Probation Officer, regular random drug tests, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, staying employed, keeping a curfew, psychotherapy and drug court. However, Darrell was spared from having to pay $4,240 compensation to Mr. Brine for his lost property, as he said he only admitted to receiving ? not stealing ? a $40 earring which had been recovered by Police.