A self-confessed drug addict was jailed for a year yesterday after he admitted launching a one-man crime spree against visitors and attacking and robbing a man who solicited him for sex.

"He needed to be taught a lesson,'' said Pembroke resident Paul Lemar Smith, 30, who was sent to prison for three months for unlawfully assaulting a man who asked him back to his house "for some fun'' during the early hours of June 10.

Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King heard how Smith, of Friswell's Hill, met the man outside Barr's Bay Park during a Tall Ships 2000 concert and followed him to his house.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said, when he arrived, Smith punched the man several times, took his wallet -- containing $25, and made good his escape.

Asked if he had anything to say in mitigation, Smith insisted: "I'm not sorry I did what I did. He needed to be taught a lesson.'' "I thought I was going to party, to see some leg and when we got there he came out of his bedroom naked, so I beat him.'' Smith continued: "That could have been a little kid that he did that to. I guarantee he won't be doing it to anyone else now.

He added: "I don't have a problem with anyone being gay as long as they don't try and lay that s*** on me.

"I think I acted appropriately by beating the s*** out of him.'' Mr. King said: "I think your actions were disproportionate to what had been done to you. You used greater force than was necessary.'' Smith also admitted stealing belongings from visitors on three separate occasions to support his "massive drug addiction''.

Ms Clarke described how he drove his motorcycle alongside visitors on their livery cycles on June 19 and 21 and grabbed bags, containing goods valued at $850 and $160 respectively, from the baskets.

Smith also took a bag, containing a beach towel and clothes, from Astwood Cove as its owner, another visitor, was swimming.

Yesterday, he apologised for the thefts and asked: "Please could you take into consideration that they were done as a result of a massive drug addiction? "I have no problem with doing time for what I did, just as long as you realise this is only a temporary solution to my problem.'' In passing sentence, Mr. King said: "I cannot overlook the seriousness of this offence, the likes of which are cutting off a lifeline to one of Bermuda's major sources of income and jobs.'' He sentenced Smith to three concurrent terms of nine months in prison for the thefts, with the condition that he undergo treatment for his drug addiction.

On top of that, Smith received 28 days in prison for the theft of $25, which will run concurrent with the three month sentence for unlawful assault.

Those sentences will run concurrently to the nine month sentence.