Michael DeShield,19, of Middle Town, Pembroke appeared in Magistrate's Court yesterday for not showing up for Regiment duty.

The court heard from Crown Counsel Takiyah Burgess that DeShield was enlisted into the Bermuda Regiment in 2005 and failed to attend military duty on 28 occasions and was charged $750 for disobeying a lawful order.

He eventually turned himself in last Tuesday and is currently serving his sentence at the Regiment, doing chores around the camp and is due to be released next Monday. DeShield said that the reason why de did not go to camp was because he had been going through some hard times and lost his job.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner informed him that he should have talked to his officers at the Regiment about his problems and they would have helped him with them.

DeShield said: "I felt I needed to get myself together first before I let someone else help me, that's why I turned myself in on Tuesday."

Capt. Chris Wheddon confirmed that they have helped him in the past.

DeShield was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment, was suspended for 24 months.

In another case, Odell Grant, 22, of Warwick also appeared in court for not showing up for Regiment duty.

Ms. Burgess told the court that Grant was also enlisted into the Bermuda Regiment in 2005 and failed to attend on seven occasions. He had completed five drills out of the required 40 per annum.

Mr. Warner asked him why he didn't show up to camp and he said: "I never received any payments from the camp because there was a problem with my social insurance, after that, I was homeless for three months."

Capt. Wheddon confirmed Grant's story but said that he has had time to fix the problem but had not.

He was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.

Also appearing in court for not showing up for regiment duty was Omari Johnson, 20, of My Lord's Bay, Hamilton Parish.

Ms. Burgess told the court that Johnson was enlisted into the Bermuda Regiment in 2006 and failed to attend military duty on 12 occasions. He had completed 33 drills out of the required 40.

When asked for an explanation he said: "I was in the States pursuing a music career. I consider myself an ambassador for Bermuda."

Mr. Warner said: "An Ambassador for Bermuda should serve his country in the Regiment that is the best ambassador you can be.''

He was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment, suspended for 24 months.