stealing a cycle despite protests from Probation Services and the duty counsel.

Tameisha Crystal Smith, of Friswell's Hill, pleaded guilty to stealing the cycle valued at $3,000.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Saltus Grammar School student Meagan Spurling rode her cycle to school on May 9 and went to hockey practice afterward.

Miss Spurling placed the bike keys and her helmet in the changing locker in the school's gym.

She returned after practice to find the keys and helmet missing from the locker. Miss Spurling discovered that her cycle was also missing.

Smith was later arrested and charged with the theft.

She admitted stealing the bike and took Police to a site near the old Bermuda College at Robert's Avenue, Devonshire. The cycle was completely destroyed by fire.

Upon hearing this, Mr. King ordered that a social inquiry report be prepared on Smith by July 18.

But when Mr. King asked the Probation Services officer if the report would be ready by then, the officer replied: "Two weeks time is cutting it close, but we'll make every effort to have it completed by that time.'' Mr. King then said Smith was to be remanded in custody "as incentive for you (Probation Services) to get the report done''.

Both duty counsel Duncan Hall and the Probation Services officer pleaded with Mr. King to take Smith's young age into consideration.

And a woman from a residential care facility, where Smith resided, pointed out that she was on the path to improving herself.

"I don't understand why you would do this,'' she told Mr. King.

"You don't need to understand the reason,'' he fired back. "I understand, and that's all that's necessary.''