The law came down heavily on a Southampton man who admitted to getting into a fight on Reid Street and using a machete while attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to another man.

Jahki Dillas, 22, of Railway Trail, was yesterday sentenced to a total of five years in prison by Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons for his role in the attack, which happened on March 11, 2007.

Dillas and three other men, who have already been sentenced for the incident, set upon victim Jahdel Rogers as he walked down Burnaby Street to the junction of Reid Street.

CCTV footage showed the defendants chase Mr. Rogers and put him on the ground kicking him.

It was the prosecution's case that each of the defendants; Dillas, Dwyia Victor Blyden, 20, Quan-Marley Derrick Lowe, 21, and Dejean Clinard Smith, 24, together with others who have evaded justice, took part in the attack.

Dillas pulled a machete from his clothing and struck Mr. Rogers twice. Smith, Lowe and Dillas entered a car after the attack.

As a result of the attack, Mr. Rogers sustained multiple stab wounds to his body.

Officers arrived at the scene moments later and arrested the men from the car.

Dillas was found wearing a stab proof vest with the words, "Sometimes you need a little protection".

Dillas was represented by lawyer Charles Richardson. In court yesterday, he told Mrs. Justice Simmons: "I'm sorry, I know for the past year I've put myself and my family in tight circumstances."

He said he's the sole provider for his two-year-old daughter: "I'm the financial (caretaker) of my daughter, her mother's in school... I ask that you be merciful of your decision."

It was also revealed that he recently enrolled in a course at the Bermuda College with the intention to graduate from it.

Earlier in her ruling, Mrs. Justice Simmons concluded about the attack: "These things are too prevalent in Bermuda... rather than removing himself from the scene, he (Dillas) joined in the fray."

And after hearing Dillas' plea for mercy, that he provides for his daughter, she added: "The minimum mandatory sentence has to be passed.

"The things you have pointed out to me are things that we hear all the time and would not count as special circumstances."

For possessing a bladed article, Dillas received five years in prison, for attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Mr. Rogers he received 18 months and six months for causing an affray, all to run concurrently with time already served taken into consideration.

Mrs. Justice Simmons also ordered he enrol in an offender's programme and a vocation programme while in prison which, if he completes, he is eligible for an early release.