discovered he was on his way to deliver cocaine worth almost $37,000.

Samuels, described as "an alcoholic who had seen better days'', told officers a colourful story involving a mysterious US contact, meetings arranged by letter and a fee of more than $15,000.

In reality, Supreme Court heard yesterday, Samuels was due $500 for acting as delivery man in the deal. His American contact was fictional and there had been no letters because he could not read.

Samuels, 56, of Clarke's Lane, Pembroke, was jailed for five years. At an earlier hearing he had admitted handling a controlled drug intended for supply on January 18.

His lawyer, Mr. Richard Hector, told the court Samuels did not abuse controlled drugs himself, but was an alcoholic "by any definition''. Because of his alcoholism Samuels had been influenced to get involved in the enterprise.

"Because of his appalling and steadily worsening financial condition he was easy prey for the drug dealer who asked him to deliver the material from point A to point B.

"All he was supposed to do was receive $500 for his small act. He has never seen $15,000 in his life. He couldn't even afford to license the bike. I understand that at the time he was picked up he was under the influence of alcohol. He seems to have gained some Dutch courage.'' He had not given Police the real names of his contacts because he was frightened of being injured. One of them had since left Bermuda.

Samuels, formerly a hotel and bar worker, had seen better days, said Mr Hector. His life had been completely changed by getting divorced, and by an accident in 1989 when a lorry had run over his leg. He had squandered the $5,000 he got in compensation and had not been able to get regular employment since.

His disability had prevented him taking his part in society and had perhaps pushed him into the offence.

"I'm sorry for everything that happened,'' Samuels told Puisne Judge the Hon.

Mr. Justice Ward.

Mr. Ward, who had earlier adjourned the case for a social inquiry report, said he had taken into account Samuels' guilty plea, remorse, age, alcoholism and degree of involvement. "I accept that any profit would have been comparitively slight,'' he said.