sentence for a Somerset man yesterday.

Marcel F. Sheppard of Main Road admitted stealing $547 from a driver on Sunday.

Insp. Peter Duffy, prosecuting, told Magistrates' Court yesterday that Sheppard got a ride to Court Street where he asked the driver to wait for him.

He later got back into the car and was driven to Robert's Avenue.

When the taxi driver pulled out cash to give him change, Sheppard snatched the money and ran.

He was arrested the next day.

Sheppard told the Police he was a cocaine addict and had used the stolen money to buy drugs, said Insp. Duffy.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis handed down the sentence after saying: "The public and the taxi drivers are looking to me to crack down very hard on this kind of offence.''