home.

"I've been thinking a lot about where I could be ten years from now if I carry on down the road I'm on,'' the 15-year-old Warwick boy told the Juvenile Court panel.

Magistrate Carlisle Greaves sentenced him to one year in the care of the Director of Child and Family Services after reading a social inquiry report on the boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

When he appeared in court over a month ago, he admitted to stealing a handbag from a tourist and possessing cannabis on April 27.

On that occasion, he told Mr. Greaves he was a drug runner for adults who later paid him in cannabis and also that he had smoked the drug since he was 12.

Although he was released on bail after that appearance, the youth was ordered to be held in a youth home for 28 days after he broke a court-ordered curfew.

When asked how things were, he said: "It's been going pretty good. I've been doing a lot of cleaning and obeying.'' The boy said he had also been doing a lot of thinking and added: "I know that I can choose between going to jail or owning my own business.'' "Well the choice is really yours,'' Mr. Greaves replied.

He said he did not want to impose a sentence of punishment but rather "make provisions for the rehabilitation of this young man''.

Mr. Greaves said he thought the boy already seemed to have made "some progress'' and added: "Perhaps we'll see some more as time goes on.

"The ball is in your court now. If you don't play it correctly then you know what the consequences will be.'' He was sent back to the juvenile home and Mr. Greaves emphasised it would be up to the Director of Child and Family Services when he would be released.