$22,000 from a Bank of Butterfield teller machine, was jailed yesterday for three years.

James A. Dill pleaded guilty to the April 27 Windsor Place break-in -- in which he also climbed down an elevator shaft from the roof to gain entry -- that left the bank's Windsor Place teller machine battered and scorched.

He admitted to two charges of breaking and entering, attempted stealing, committing a felony and destroying property. He also admitted to wearing a face mask with intent to commit a felony.

Crown Counsel Mr. Brian Calhoun told the court that on April 23 Dill and another man entered the Windsor Place building through a roof door and elevator shaft.

"After using a crowbar to pry open the locking mechanism of the machine, they left after discovering they lacked proper equipment to enter the ATM machine's internal safe,'' Mr. Calhoun said.

Four days later, Dill and his accomplice returned to the machine by the same route.

"At this time they were masked to conceal their identity from the ATM's camera and Dill carried a fully equipped acetylene torch''.

Mr. Calhoun added that after the co-defendant pried open the outer locking mechanism of the machine Dill used the torch to cut open the safe.

"This means of entry completely destroyed the ATM and safe which were worth approximately $35,000 when new and operational.'' In the midst of the crime, Police arrived on the scene to catch Dill and his accomplice red-handed. They had removed $22,920 from the safe.

Dill's lawyer Mr. Archie Warner told the court: "He was not the instigator of this crime. His skills as a welder were exploited as well as his financial, economical condition.

"He told the co-defendant that he would put the money towards an operation on his leg because he had been in pain for years.'' Pusine Judge the Hon. Justice Ground sentenced Dill three years for breaking and entering and committing a felony. He also received two years for breaking and entering, two years for attempted stealing, six months for destroying prioperty, and six months for wearing the face mask with with intent to commit a felony.

All the sentences are to run concurrently.