defence lawyer, and to a Warwick man convicted of trespassing.

Mr. King sentenced Coolridge Eve, 40, of Bulkhead Drive, to four months in prison after he pleaded guilty to trespassing at the Bermuda Gas and Utility office on August 13.

A charge of breaking and entering with intent to steal -- to which Eve had already pleaded not guilty -- was dropped as the hearing began by Crown counsel Leighton Rochester.

Eve has been at Westgate Correctional Facility since August 16, trying to meet the terms of his bail.

Mr. King -- looking directly at Mr. Rochester -- said he noted the original charge and Eve's relatively high bail terms, adding it "doesn't look too sharp''.

"When I look here,'' he said holding the charge sheet aloft. "And I see bail was $5,000 with a like surety. It doesn't look too sharp.'' "You'll always hear me say that I am here to take the `in' out of justice!'' Mr. King added. "Look, look! Plus a condition to report to Police twice a week.'' The Magistrate explained that a high bail with attached conditions must be potentially reachable for a defendant or it will "otherwise be tantamount to being on remand'' at the order of a judge or magistrate.

He told Eve: "Your sentence will take into account the time from August 16 when they charged you to yesterday October 7. So you should be out in a few weeks.'' Eve thanked Mr. King before he was taken away.

Mr. King heard that staff at the gas company offices were closing the building at 5.55 p.m. when one of them noticed Eve in a storeroom.

Mr. Rochester said the person did not disturb Eve, but promptly called Police who found him a few minutes later.

Eve told Police: "It was not my intention to steal anything. I was just sleeping.'' Later that day, Mr. Rochester said, Eve changed his story, saying he was hiding from someone who was chasing him.

Throughout the Police questioning, Eve denied he intended to steal from Bermuda Gas.

Mr. Rochester added that Eve has four similar convictions, including a five-year stint for stealing beginning in 1994.

During the mitigation phase of the hearing, Mr. King was not satisfied with Eve's lawyer, Richard Horseman, telling him: "I don't think that's any mitigating factor, the fact that he gave a statement to Police.'' Later, as Mr. Horseman was speaking to Mr. Rochester, Mr. King addressed him, then said: "Tell Mr. Horseman when the bench addresses him he is to stand.'' And then when Eve stood and repeated he did not intend to steal from Bermuda Gas and asked that Mr. King be as "lenient as possible'', the Magistrate said: "Man, you are a boss at mitigation for yourself.'' "You don't need a lawyer!'' he added. "At least you know what to say.''