no one was willing to look after him if he was released.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis said he had received 17-year-old Lorenzo Robinson's social inquiry report and it put "an extremely challenging situation before me''.

Robinson pleaded guilty last month to trying to rob two American visitors at knife point on February 26 at Gate's Fort in the east end. He was remanded in custody after it emerged that he was homeless.

A social inquiry report was ordered for him but he was told on two later appearances in Magistrates' Court that it was not ready because it was not typed.

The latest problem occurred because no one was willing to take care of Robinson should he be released.

Mr. Francis said he understood that a recent report on the front page of The Royal Gazette concerning Robinson's last appearance in court had scared one potential caretaker off.

People probably did not want the publicity associated with the young man, he said.

Mr. Francis said he believed probation was the best option but it required him to have a home to go to and something useful to spend his days doing.

Meanwhile corrective training was another option but it meant Robinson would be in custody for at least nine months, he added.

If Robinson was released, continued Mr. Francis, he would be homeless again as he was when he "went down to the fort and pointed a knife at some visitors''.

Mr. Francis said it was a "desperate situation''.

"Somebody has got to find something to do with all these people who ...

seem to fall in the cracks.

"I'm the one who's got to catch them,'' he continued.

Robinson came up with a suggestion of his own.

Unwanted teen sent back to jail He said if he went back to the Co-Ed Facility for another fortnight he would come back to court with a family member who would agree to take him.

Mr. Francis told Robinson: "You are between a rock and a hard place.

"The rock is coming out into the community where things are not always easy.

"The hard place is inside the Co-Ed Facility for nine months up to three years.'' He said he would remand Robinson for the fortnight and told him: "Spend the next two weeks deciding which option you wish to take. Give a lot of thought to it.''