"You've just graduated to the Supreme Court,'' Magistrate Edward King told a homeless man who admitted committing robbery on a cruise ship worker recently.

Mr. King -- a former teacher -- told 23-year-old Tyari Shaune Harvey: "You've just graduated from Middle School to the University of the Supreme Court.

"You've got a long history for your youthful age,'' he added. "You've got to be sent to the Supreme Court to be sentenced.

"My maximum is 12 months and you've got a suspended six-month sentence hanging over you. You need more than six months to sort you out.'' Referring to a walk Harvey had made with Polish cruise ship worker Pawel Losiewski to find "dancing girls'' on September 27, Mr. King added: "Oasis is a long way from Leopard's Club, isn't it?'' Police Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the court Mr. Losiewski had been involved in a conversation with Harvey and another man at the Oasis nightclub.

Mr. Losiewski asked to be shown where he could find strippers and Harvey and the other man -- who is understood to be in Police custody -- led Mr.

Losiewski to the Leopard's Club parking lot on Dundonald Street.

Once there, Harvey disappeared around 3 a.m. and returned 15 minutes later saying he needed money to get into the club.

Harvey snatched a wallet containing $350 the man pulled from his pocket and ran off. Police believe the other man kicked Mr. Losiewski.

Arrested later that morning on Court Street, Harvey made a full confession at Hamilton Police Station but said he had been asked to find drugs.

Other than opt for a summary trial and then to plead guilty, Harvey had nothing to say to the court.

Mr. King explained the law allows for serious cases to be sentenced in the Supreme Court if a Magistrate finds his or her one year jailing powers to be insufficient.

Harvey was remanded in custody until he can be brought before the high court.