homeless teenager who got in trouble with the law.

Brian Clark, 19, will now live and work at the Bermuda Regiment's Warwick Camp -- but remain a civilian.

But last night Regiment Adjutant Capt. Larry Mussenden could not say if the historic move would mark the beginning of a new role for the Regiment.

"It is the first time we've done anything like this,'' Capt. Mussenden explained. "Often we house soldiers with difficulties. I suppose that this is one of the benefits the Regiment can provide the community.

"Any future moves like this would have to be decided by the Commanding Officer,'' Capt. Mussenden added. "Probation Services said that this was a one time thing.'' The move came after Clarke appeared in Magistrates's Court charged with theft.

A social inquiry report was ordered on the homeless teen.

"Probation Services contacted the Regiment to see if we could help by housing and employing him,'' Capt. Mussenden recalled.

Yesterday Senior Magistrate Will Francis placed Clarke on two years probation.

Under that order, Clarke will have to live and work at the Regiment.

"He volunteered to do this,'' Capt. Mussenden pointed out. "We are hoping to assist him with his education.'' Yesterday in court Capt. Mussenden pointed out the irony of the situation.

"Normally the Regiment is down at the courts trying to get people to attend,'' he told Mr. Francis. "And we often get chastised by some Magistrates for it.

"But now we have a person who wants to get into the Regiment to receive assistance.''