Drug dealer Ricky Steede was sentenced to eight years in prison yesterday for having 51 rocks of crack cocaine last August.

Richard Ricardo Steede, who maintained his innocence to the end, was found guilty by a Supreme Court jury after almost three hours' deliberation.

Steede, 37, of 12 Kitty's Lane, was jailed for eight years for possessing $2,600 worth of cocaine with intent to supply, and fined $600 each for possessing cannabis and using offensive words.

For having drug equipment, Steede must serve one year in prison -- to run concurrently with the eight-year term. Each fine carries a two month prison sentence if not paid.

Steede was acquitted of obstructing a Police officer in the execution of her duty.

Steede admitted using offensive words during the August 17, 1998, search of his home in which officers sawed open a four-inch pipe leading to a cesspit after hearing a toilet filling.

After the jury gave their verdict yesterday, Steede said: "I'm not guilty.'' But Chief Justice Austin Ward was unmoved after hearing of Steede's drug convictions dating back to 1981.

"It's a litany of convictions,'' he told Steede's lawyer Richard Hector.

"He's been practising like a pharmacist so he shouldn't really complain about Police harassment. They have a duty to perform.'' Mr. Justice Ward thanked the jury, saying they had performed a valuable service and encouraged them to continue to serve as jurors.

He added: "If not, you do not have the opportunity to shape the society in which you live.'' Picture: Page 2 Steede jailed for drug offences And seemingly acknowledging the difficulty of convicting someone on such charges, Mr. Ward added: "If you don't (serve on juries) we will reach the stage in which judges handle verdicts.'' He added: "That is something which the Bar tries strenuously to avoid.'' During the trial, Steede told the jury he had just finished rolling and smoking a "splif'' in his kitchen when he went to take a shower around 1 p.m.

that day.

He heard noises and glass breaking and hid in the shower. Steede also claimed that he wanted to see objects Police found in the pipe when he was roughed up.

He denied he was trying to kick a prone Policewoman as she reached into a four inch plastic pipe to retrieve a package visible through a vent.

And Steede said he believed several other tenants were at home in the five apartment building and flushed while Police were on the property.

Six officers said they entered the home to find Steede clothed in a shower with the toilet re-filling.

A Police dog searched the apartment, stopped in front of Steede, and indicated there was a smell of cannabis, cocaine, or heroin on the defendant's hands. A further flush of Steede's toilet forced through a second package of cannabis and Police claimed Steede aimed a kick at P.c. Jurine Smith as she fished out the drugs.

Steede said Police kept him away from seeing the drugs in place by forcing him against a wall and jamming his arm in the air.

He told the court: "I was not trying to hit out at anybody. If I had tried to kick her why would that lady (P.c. Smith) come and treat my injuries?''