was yesterday jailed for 15 months by Chief Justice Austin Ward despite his pleas for leniency.

The sentencing came after a Supreme Court jury found Kenneth Rupert Alexander Robinson guilty of possessing a knife and assaulting 25-year-old Katherine Leslie occasioning bodily harm.

The jury handed down the unanimous verdicts after two hours of deliberation.

Robinson, who represented himself, had earlier succeeded in persuading Mr.

Justice Ward to dismiss a charge of depriving Miss Leslie of her liberty because of a lack of evidence.

Following his conviction, Robinson threw himself on the mercy of the Chief Justice.

He asked Mr. Justice Ward to consider probation for the assault offence and a fine for the possession of the knife.

"Be very lenient with me,'' he said. "So that I can get my treatment. I have a lung disease and I need to get my right lung removed.'' His pleas failed to move Chief Justice Austin Ward, who imposed concurrent prison terms of 15 months for the assault offence and six months for possessing the knife.

The maximum jail time for either offence is two years.

During the three-day trial, Robinson, 54, was said to have been "fixated'' with Miss Leslie. Robinson denied the claim, saying they were just friends.

He is said to have cut Miss Leslie on the forearm during a midnight struggle on January 14, 1996.

And Det. Sgt. Anselm Kirby, who arrested Robinson at his home on Hillview Road, Warwick, two weeks after the incident, told the court that the accused even wanted to marry his victim.

The court had heard that Robinson held a serrated, long-bladed knife to Miss Leslie's throat as she returned home to Tele Lane, Warwick, following a night out.

He told her that he knew where her scooter was after it had been stolen the night before.

And the Crown alleged he marched her to the spot on Tribe Road No. 6 where the red Honda City Express was covered in tall grass.

Robinson, who said he wore an orange hooded top and gloves during the incident, denied he stole Miss Leslie's moped in a bid to lure her into the bushes.

Robinson claimed he had seen three men wheeling the bike away the night before.

Robinson, who cross-examined Miss Leslie for 35 minutes on Monday, argued in court that Police had fabricated statements he is alleged to have made.

He also questioned why a coat worn by Miss Leslie on the night of the incident, which was apparently slashed in the sleeve, was never presented as evidence.