A gunman who held Bank of Butterfield employees at gunpoint while robbing the Southampton branch of more than $20,000 was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Supreme Court yesterday.

The October 14 hold-up was one of two incidents involving guns that prompted Premier Sir John Swan to call a gun amnesty later that month.

Che Tumang Pennyman, 24, of Crissons Avenue, Pembroke, received a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence under the Firearms Act.

But a reduced sentence of two years for robbery was handed down by Pusine Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade because Pennyman has agreed to testify against his co-accused who allegedly gave him the gun.

Had Pennyman refused to give evidence at the trial, the date of which has yet to be set, he could have faced up to 17 years in prison.

Pennyman claims he obtained the loaded 24-inch barrel handgun from his co-accused who waited for him on a motorcycle in a car park adjacent to the hotel.

Meanwhile Pennyman, wearing a bandana over his face, entered the bank and fired a single shot into the ceiling.

He then demanded money from a bank teller who handed over more than $20,000, before fleeing with his co-accused on the back of a motorcycle.

An off-duty policeman followed the pair as far as Eastdale Lane, Southampton, before they escaped.

Sen. Lawrence Scott, defending, said Pennyman was under the influence of drugs at the time of the robbery but had reformed in jail.

He added: "On the scale of horrific crimes, this one is not the most horrific. There was no physical injury to others.'' But Mrs. Justice Wade reminded him the law does not excuse drug-induced offences.

"The law is very clear that if someone takes drugs and goes out and commits an offence, it is not something the courts can take into account,'' she said.

In an emotional plea to the court, Pennyman, who co-operated fully with the Police by admitting his guilt and helping to reconstruct the crime scene, expressed remorse for the incident.

"I find myself in a terrible situation,'' he said. "Deep down inside I cannot blame anyone else but me. I'm feeling sorry for what I have done. Sorry to the staff at the bank for putting them through trouble and especially sorry to the lady who was crying at the bank. If any of them are hurt now I would truly say I'm sorry and that I owe them an apology.'' He also agreed to testify against his co-accused in spite of attacks from fellow prison inmates.

But most of the money stolen during the robbery is still missing, said Senior Crown Counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun.