religion, according to Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl Ann Mapp.

And Mrs. Mapp warned two Rastafarians that they must follow the rules of Bermuda if they wish to stay here and out of prison.

She was sentencing Leroy Butterfield and Henry Trott for importing seven and half ounces of cannabis, with a street value of $10,000.

Butterfield, 30, of Pitts Bay Road, Pembroke, was sentenced to six months prison followed by 12 months on probation.

Trott, 29, of Derwent Lane, Devonshire, was fined $2,000 and given a six months prison sentence suspended for two years.

Police found the drugs in audio tapes sent in a package to Butterfield via the Dub City record store on Court Street, Hamilton, in January, last year.

Trott was working at Dub City, and had knowledge of the contents of the package.

Prosecutor Sgt. Rex Osborne asked that Mrs. Mapp consider custodial sentences because of the seriousness of the importation charge.

Butterfield's lawyer Mr. Archie Warner said although both men had admitted importation, neither was being charged with the more serious offence of intent to supply.

Mr. Warner said: "In this case my client imported the drugs for his own personal use. He is a Rastafarian and through his religion he adheres to the use of the drug.

"Although the drug has a street value in Bermuda of $10,000, it can be purchased in New York for $4-500.'' Butterfield said he was due to go abroad to get married and to continue his religion.

He said: "I am sorry about this offence I had told the people not to send this but afterwards I took the responsibility and went through with it. I was wrong and it is too late now to put it right.'' Mrs. Mapp said: "I appreciate that you have a certain type of religion and certain type of lifestyle that embraces these drugs, but it is not legal in Bermuda.

"You must respect the laws of the country in which you live. When in Rome do as the Romans do. If everyone wanted their own rules and regulations there would be chaos.'' She said to Butterfield: "You could have spent 20 cents on a phone call which would have saved a lot of aggravation. You need something to offer you guidance to change your lifestyle and protect yourself.

"I will not tolerate you doing this in Bermuda where children can see you and believe that it is all right to do the same. If you want to do this go somewhere else.''