A drug courier who kicked a man in his temple and stole cash was jailed for two years yesterday with another two years' probation.

Marco Wayne Lovell, 24, of Glebe Road, Pembroke pleaded guilty to the robbery of a St. George's painter outside St. George's Cricket Club on February 15.

The victim went in to buy cigarettes but left because the bar was crowded but was jumped from behind and pulled to the ground.

The startled victim asked what was wrong but Lovell said: "I am going to see what's in his pockets."

The pair grappled on the ground and Lovell, who was kneeling, punched the victim and then reached into his pockets and took $150 cash.

The victim was held from behind by another person not before the courts.

Lovell then kicked the victim in his left temple with steel-toe capped boots and said: "That's for my boy."

Lovell, who lived at various St. George's addresses including an abandoned boat, was picked up later and admitted the offence but claimed to only have netted $30.

However during a social inquiry report he expressed no remorse for the attack and boasted the repeated blows would have killed the man and added the victim deserved the attack.

Lovell, who has previous convictions for stealing, admitted to the probation officer he earned $4,000 a month delivering cocaine and cannabis but had no recognised job.

Crown counsel Lloyd Rayney said Lovell should be jailed for three to six years because he had shown no remorse and there was a high risk of him re-offending.

He said: "This was an unprovoked attack on a completely innocent member of the community."

Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill asked for a two year sentence after saying Lovell had lost hope and had been badly guided.

He said: "If he doesn't get it in two years he won't get it in four years."

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons said: "I have a grave responsibility to protect members of the public, the next one could be killed.

"He went on to boast of how he kicked the victim in the temple with a steel-toe capped boot."

Lovell apologised to the court and the victim and his family and claimed to have turned his life around in order to survive.

The judge replied: "That's what you were doing. You thought selling drugs, using drugs and robbing people was the way to survive."

Lovell said: "That was the old Mr. Lovell."

The judge replied: "When did the new one come about? The old Mr. Lovell spoke to the probation officer last week."

The defendant said he couldn't change in one day and said he was interested in the judge's suggestion of probation.

He admitted smoking marijuana and said: "People make out marijuana is a bad drug" to which the judge replied: "Yes, people like you."

Lovell was sentenced to two years in prison where he is to undergo vocational and social skills training. The seven months on remand will be taken into account.

The two years probation on release from prison includes a curfew, a ban from cricket and football matches and a ban on having alcohol and drugs.