elevator at The Princess hotel began serving a year in prison yesterday.

Hubert Spence, 41, of Riviera Crescent, Southampton, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to the charge of stealing Joan MacKinney's handbag containing $80 in cash in the early hours of August 12.

Police prosecutor Sgt. John Dale said Spence followed MacKinney and her friend, travel agent Nancy Kath, into The Princess hotel's lobby and into the elevator.

The women asked Spence which floor he wanted and he grabbed the handbag and ran away.

Sgt. Dale said the women chased after Spence, but he managed to escape.

In court yesterday, Spence -- who admitted he had a drinking problem -- said he had been drinking heavily on the night of the incident and had decided to go for a drive.

As he went pass The Princess hotel, Spence said he saw the women enter the hotel and so he parked his bike and followed them.

He admitted that he had stolen the handbag and asked the Court for help with his drinking problem.

Magistrate the Wor. Mr. Edward King said "tourism is dying'' and Spence "has driven a nail in the coffin''.

Spence, who had been sentenced to a suspended sentence of three months imprisonment on May 2 for stealing, had that sentence activated. And he was ordered to serve an additional nine months for his latest crime.

REPORT ORDERED FOR MOTHER CTS Report ordered for mother A 25-year-old unemployed mother of two who stole money for drugs was released on $500 bail yesterday pending a social inquiry report.

Stacey Hollis, of High Point Lane, Devonshire, pleaded guilty to stealing a co-worker's pay cheque of $367.14 on August 24.

Hollis was arrested on August 28 and admitted stealing the money to buy personal items and drugs.

Hollis said she had since repaid the money and had enrolled in Narcotics Anonymous to combat her long history of drug abuse.

Magistrate the Wor. Edward King said he would wait for the social inquiry report before handing down a sentence.