Two homeless men were jailed while another was set free in Magistrates' Court last week.

The trio were charged with trespassing in an area behind Central Auto Garage, also known as Car World, an area where homeless people are known to sleep.

Brian Tuzo, 50, Wayne Hanley, 48, and Walter Howes, 48, all denied there was a no trespassing sign on the premises when they went in to sleep on Thursday night. But they pleaded guilty to entering the premises.

Hanley, one of the homeless men, said he just rested there last night.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves asked how long had he been homeless and Hanley said: "I've been homeless for about five years."

"So why are you so unlucky?" asked Mr. Greaves. "Do you have children, a woman or a fella?

"So why don't you find somewhere to live that you have to pay for?"

He did not have a partner or children.

Mr. Greaves suggested that he should buy himself a boat that he could live on and said: "It's a sexy way to live."

Howes, who was sentenced to 90 days in prison, said: "I am guilty of sleeping in a car. This is life."

Mr. Greaves asked if he had a job and he said: "No, sir, not for six or seven years."

The Magistrate asked if he was mentally challenged and he said he was not.

Howes said it was difficult to find a job in Bermuda, to which Mr. Greaves said: "Your making sport man. Bermuda has the lowest unemployment rate in the world.

"What kind of job can you do?"

Howes said: "When I was on the bench I was studying."

"What bench?" asked Mr. Greaves.

"The park bench," said Howes. "I was trying to get back into school."

He claimed that the last time he went to the Bermuda College was a year and a half ago, but he didn't qualify to do anything.

Tuzo, who escaped a prison sentence with a fine, said he was working at the Central Auto Garage as a sander and a cleaner.

Tuzo said: "I live in the shelter."

Mr. Greaves asked how much did he pay to live there and the father of two adult sons said $35 a week.

"So why were you sleeping in a car?" asked Mr. Greaves.

"I was late and the gate to the shelter was closed," said Tuzo, who said he was a carpenter by trade.

Mr. Greaves said: "I am going to charge you $250 for last night's rent or 40 days in jail.

"You other two I'm going to lock you up. If you come back I am going to fling you in jail every time. Three months each."