through the cracks of society.

Paul Mario Smith, 17, who is soon to be a father, pleaded not guilty to stealing and receiving an auxiliary cycle.

But he admitted his fourth offence for driving while disqualified in six months.

The court also heard Smith had some $1,000 worth of unpaid fines and had been kicked out of his mother's house.

Smith told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis he did not think he could pay the fines for some time because he has been unable to find a job.

He added he was expecting to have additional financial responsibilities because his girlfriend is eight months pregnant with his child.

Prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said Smith had been seen riding a cycle on Friswell's Hill after midnight on Sunday by Policemen who knew he was off the road. He was arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station.

"For a young man, his recent (criminal) history is pretty grim,'' Insp. Duffy remarked.

He said Smith was off the road until April 1997, having had three convictions for driving while disqualified this year.

"The red flag is out!,'' duty counsel Ms Charles-Etta Simmons said. "These are serious charges he is facing although they are just traffic offences.'' She suggested community service, saying there was no sense locking him up.

Saying Smith was fast on his way to "falling through the cracks'', Mr.

Francis said there may have been "a failure somewhere along the way''.

He ordered a social inquiry report and adjourned the matter for sentencing to October 26.

But he said in the meantime the law required him to tag on two years to the time Smith is already off the road.

He also gave Smith until January 1993 to pay off his fines.