A 24-year-old man received an eight-year prison sentence yesterday for his part in a triangle handling heroin with a $1.7 million street value.

Sharif Boyd Taylor of Aubrey Road, Hamilton Parish, pleaded guilty to handling a controlled drug intended for supply.

He was arrested on August 23, 1999 and originally charged with importing, possessing and handling with intent to supply.

Taylor, claimed that the drugs belonged to his former room-mate. He admitted however, that he arranged for a friend to pick up a package which he believed contained drugs -- although he claimed he did not know the value or type of drug involved.

The package in question contained 348 grammes of heroin.

Prosecutor Dorien Taylor asked Chief Justice Austin Ward to consider a ten- to 12-year sentence.

Defence lawyer Saul Froomkin argued Taylor was guilty of "stupidity'' because he had believed that if he arranged for someone else to pick up the drugs "he wasn't really involved''.

Mr. Froomkin said Taylor was never to receive any payment in relation to the drugs, he merely arranged collection of the package as a "favour'' to "an older gentleman with whom he had been living''.

Mr. Froomkin said Taylor is "a bright, young man who was a top athlete and had everything going for him.'' Mr. Froomkin cited some 15 newspaper reports of drug cases over the last five years, pointing out that the sentences ranged from three to 12 years.

He argued Taylor was only a secondary party to the heroin -- not an importer -- and that he had admitted his offence and cooperated with Police.

Mr. Foomkin also said that the primary party to the heroin is known to Police and has been since the time of Taylor's arrest.

"If stupidity was an offence, of course the maximum should be imposed,'' Mr.

Froomkin argued. But, as Taylor was on the periphery, doing someone a favour, the court "should be looking in the range of three to five years''.

In sentencing, Mr. Justice Ward said he accepted that Taylor had not been importing and therefore didn't sentence him on the basis of being the primary party involved with the heroin.

He said that while the maximum sentence was life, Taylor's role was that of a "facilitator''.

Before handing down the relatively light sentence of eight years, Mr. Justice Ward said he made his decision, "bearing in mind the danger to society such a large quantity of the drug could have caused.''