months in prison for stealing more than $4,000.

Joshua Weston Butler, of Glebe Road, Pembroke pleaded guilty to snatching the handbag of a 75-year-old Ruth Paynter on May 14.

The bag contained $600 in local cash and $3,400 in US currency.

Crown counsel Leighton Rochester told the court Butler visited Mrs. Paynter -- the owner and operator of Clearview Guest Cottages, Hamilton Parish -- on the premise of looking for a job.

After an interview, Butler followed the elderly woman to the Landfall Restaurant. He then snatched his victim's handbag as she was walking from the restaurant to her car. And he escaped in a nearby car driven by a waiting accomplice.

But Butler later admitted his crime when arrested by Police on August 6.

Yesterday, defence lawyer Tyrone Chin told Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller that his client had changed considerably since the time of his theft.

Mr. Chin said his client had committed the offence during a "drug binge'', but had been conscience-stricken since the incident.

He added that the 24-year-old had fallen into the "abyss of drugs'' after the sudden death of his uncle and father figure, Reuben Simmons.

But he pointed out that Butler had since taken part in counselling sessions in order to conquer his cocaine and heroine addiction.

Mr. Chin also gave a $1,000 bank cheque to Mr. Rochester and asked the Crown counsel to forward the money to Mrs. Paynter. And he said Butler planned to repay the rest of the stolen money -- which was never recovered -- in $100 monthly payments.

"I am truly sorry for the offence,'' Butler told Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller.

"I was under the influence of drugs, that wasn't really me. I was insane.'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller noted Butler's remorse, and cooperation with the Police and sentenced him to six months imprisonment -- half the length usually given.

And she encouraged him to participate in drug addiction programmes at the Westgate Correctional Facility and to honour his promise to repay the stolen money.