A man who robbed a bar of $1,800 cash after telling a staff member he had a gun has been jailed for three years.

Marvin Lambe, 41, of Radnor Road, Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to committing the raid at the Southampton Arms during a court appearance on July 25.

When he appeared before Supreme Court yesterday for sentencing, Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke explained how he targeted employee Clarence Raynor on the night of September 1 2005.

The victim was closing the bar in Raynor?s Drive at 10.15 p.m. when he heard a knock on the door, and someone calling ?uncle?. When asked who he was, Lambe replied: ?It?s your nephew. Open the door, uncle!?

He asked for a beer, but Mr. Raynor told him the venue was closed. When asked for money, Mr. Raynor replied that he didn?t have any. However, Lambe then took a bag containing $1,800 cash, warning: ?Don?t do nothing stupid because I?ve got a gun.?

He patted his pocket, and then left the premises. Ms Clarke said Lambe was arrested on September 9 in Devonshire. He rented a hotel rooma nd spent the money on drugs.

The court heard that Lambe is single, unemployed, and has one child. He has 30 convictions for offences of violence and dishonesty dating back to 1981 and was last released from prison in 2003. Ms Clarke said the maximum sentence he could be handed for the crime of robbery was ten years, and suggested that his punishment should fall within the range of two to four years.

Charles Richardson, defending Lambe, said his client was a skilled carpenter during his periods of sobriety and would be able to pay the money back if a period of probation was granted. Mr. Richardson also told Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves: ?You are aware of what you are dealing with ? a cycle of a man who would otherwise have a bright future, committing criminal acts because of drug addiction.?

He criticised the fact that there is no long term residential drug treatment facility in Bermuda. ?Anything else we do is punching numbers,? he said.

When given the opportunity to speak in his own defence, Lambe said he wished to apologise to the courts, to society, and to Mr. Raynor. Sentencing him three years imprisonment and three years of probation, Mr. Justice Greaves said: ?Robbery is a serious crime and can lead to harrowing future experiences for victims, even when no actual violence is used.?

He said that, despite the lack of long-term facilities, Lambe should pursue rehabilitation in order to reduce his ?menace to society?. He also ordered him to pay $1,800 compensation.