A drug addict dragged a woman along the road on her face while he tried to grab her bag so that he could buy drugs.

The Supreme Court heard that the man, who began a nine month prison sentence yesterday, had begun taking drugs when he was 12.

Kenneth Kevin Boyles, 25, of Cambridge Road, Sandys, was charged with robbing an English tourist on Pitts Bay Road, in Hamilton, in 2001, although the charge of robbery was amended to stealing. Both Boyles and Dean Leslie Eve, 32, of Cedar Park Road, Devonshire, were initially charged with the offence, although during an earlier trial it was decided that no evidence was offered against Eve.

Yesterday in the Supreme Court, Boyles admitted to dragging Janet Stannard, 55, of Hampshire, on her face along the road, as the pair tried to grab her handbag while riding a moped.

Assistant Justice Charles Etta-Simmons said she would sentence Boyles to a combined sentence, which would incorporate nine months in prison, and when released to go to the Camp Spirit residential drug treatment facility, on Darrell's Island.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith recommended that Boyles receive the maximum sentence because of his previous convictions. Mrs. Smith said that the fundamental reasons for her recommendation were to maintain a safe and peaceful society.

Mrs. Smith told the court that on April 17, 2001 at 8.45 p.m. Mrs. Stannard was walking hand in hand with her husband on the sidewalk when a bike approached them. Boyles and the other man grabbed her purse, dragging her as they went.

An off-duty Police officer saw the incident as it was occurring and was able to chase them, but both men jumped off the bike and ran away.

The bike was found and some items recovered, but they got away with $865 in cash.

Det. Sgt. Kevin Christopher read the antecedent report, which revealed that Boyles had been jailed on numerous occasions for a host of similar offences. Mrs. Smith added that she had received drug assessment reports and a social inquiry report, and that their recommendation was for Boyles to be sent to prison and then receive drug treatment at Camp Spirit, when the programme restarted in October. Defence lawyer Patrick Doherty made similar recommendations, but claimed that his client was led astray by Eve.

But Assistant Justice Simmons said "it was always someone else's fault". After Mr. Doherty pointed out that Boyles had a substance abuse problem, she added: "I am aware that he began smoking marijuana at 12, started using cocaine between 17 and 18, and heroin after that."

Mr. Doherty said: "He had a very difficult life."

Assistant Justice Simmons suggested that Boyles would benefit from a combined sentence of both drug treatment and probation and a term of imprisonment. Boyles told the court that he accepted full responsibility for his actions.

He said: "I just want to tell the court and anyone else when I was growing up, I did not aim to become a drug addict or a statistic.'