Lawyer Richard Horseman said if there had been a national addiction programme, as planned for the year 2000, then his former drug addict client might have had different options.

A new treatment and assessment centre is in the pipeline, together with a designated drugs court, to enable magistrates to order rehabilitation instead of custody for users.

Mr. Horseman was speaking as Lincoln Don Christopher, 28, of Ballast Road, St, David's pleaded guilty to importation of diamorphine (heroin) in 1996.

Leighton Rochester, prosecuting, withdrew a second charge of possession of a controlled drug.

Christopher had been arrested after a package of heroin was sent to Bermuda from the UK.

The envelope had aroused the suspicions of Post Office workers, who in turn called Customs officials and then the Police Narcotics department.

Mr. Rochester said on opening the package they discovered two taped parcels of a brown powder concealed inside a birthday greeting cards. It was later revealed that the powder was 8.3 grams of heroin.

The package was resealed with a sample and left at St. David's Post Office.

Christopher took the envelope and was followed by officers along Grape Bay Road. On reaching a cricket ground, they observed the defendant opening the package and pouring the powder onto the ground.

Officers moved in and when arrested, Christopher said "you ain't got nothing on me'' and "you didn't catch me with heroin''.

The powder was missing and Christopher said he had poured it into the sea, but it was discovered later on a nearby grass verge.

In interview, he admitted there had been heroin in the envelope and said he had put the drugs onto the grass because drugs killed and it had fertilised the grass.

Richard Horseman, defending, said Christopher had never intended to supply the drugs but said his girlfriend in England said she would send him something. He expected it to be methadone, he said.

He said he had sought help for his heroin addiction since 1995 and wanted to go abroad for treatment, but there wasn't a place for him. Senior Magistrate Will Francis was shown letters from Addiction Services, backing up his claims.

Had the new programme been in place then, then there would have been other possibilities for Christopher, he said.

Sentence on Christopher, who was already in custody on another matter, was adjourned for a social inquiry report on October 26.

JEWELLERY THROWN AWAY CTS Jewellery thrown away After stealing $5,000 of jewellery Shannon Trott threw the haul away after getting scared.

Trott, 18, of Woodlands Road, pleaded guilty to stealing on two occasions.

Sgt. Phil Taylor, prosecuting, said Trott, whilst working at a house, stole a watch and ring worth $5,000.

He admitted the theft but said he threw the jewellery in some bushes after getting scared. The items were not recovered.

The second offence occurred when a knapsack containing personal items worth $200 went missing from a yard. Trott admitted taking the bag because he thought it had money in it.

Trott, a mechanic who lives with his mother, was already in breach of a community service order and probation when he committed the offence.

He will be sentenced after an updated probation report is produced on October 28.

ALLOWED TO STAY ON ROAD CTS Allowed to stay on road A mobile mechanic was allowed to stay on the road after he was stopped speeding at 63 km.

Edwin Simons was stopped in his car but asked Senior Magistrate Will Francis if he could keep his licence to enable him to work.

Simons, 58, of Ord Road, Warwick pleaded guilty to speeding.

He told the court he thought he would just be cautioned for the offence but pleaded for his licence when informed that would not be the case.

He said he was on his way to a gas station when stopped.

Simons was fined $300 for the offence.

STOLE CHEQUES FROM MOM CTS Stole cheques from mom A Pembroke man who stole cheques from his mother will be sentenced next month.

Kawefi Simba Wilson, 23, of Parsons Road took the cheques and tried to use them at supermarkets, Senior Magistrate Will Francis was told.

Wilson pleaded guilty to stealing, making a false document, knowingly and fraudulently attempting to offer a false document and defrauding to obtain goods.

Sgt. Phil Taylor, prosecuting, said Wilson's mother found nine personal cheques missing and suspected her son was responsible. She confronted him and he admitted the crime, and was arrested.

Wilson, a drug addict on a methadone programme, asked for six other similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Tyrone Chin, defending, said Wilson, a mason, had cooperated with the police and had been attending addiction services every day for the last few months.

He lives with his girlfriend and 18-month-old child, and believed his mother would have dropped the charges if she had come to court.

Mr. Francis ordered a social inquiry report on Wilson, pending sentence on October 28. He was given bail on $1,000 surety.

He pleaded guilty to additional offences of riding an unlicensed and uninsured motorcycle, and was fined a total of $500. An outstanding $300 fine was ordered to be paid within two weeks, or prison for 20 days.