church minister declared on Friday.

Mr. Rodney Smith, who described himself as a "qualified minister and social worker'', made the dramatic announcement in the middle of a Magistrates' Court case.

He intervened as Vorhees Eugene Trott, of no fixed abode, was about to be sentenced for stealing shirts from a back of town store.

Smith, of the Real Truth Crusade, said he was working at the area's community playground, and Trott was one of the people his group was helping.

"Over the past three weeks we have seen a dramatic change in his behaviour,'' Smith told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis.

Stealing the shirts was completely out of character, he added.

"Be lenient. Give him a chance to pay for the shirts and turn him back over to us so we can continue to work with him.'' Mr. Smith said his team had experienced "dramatic success''.

"Eight to 10 persons on Court Street, drug users, have decided to make a change in their lives.'' Earlier, prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy had described how Trott took four $10 T-shirts from a stall outside the Bargain Centre and ran off.

At first the 33-year-old thief told Police he had stolen them to buy food.

Later, he said: "I'm going to pay the man back. I was drunk.'' He pleaded guilty to the offence, which was committed last Wednesday night.

After listening to Mr. Smith's plea, Mr. Francis told Trott: "I appeal to you to pay attention to what this young man and his team are trying to do to help you.'' He fined him $100, including $40 compensation for the store.