A homeless man was jailed for three-and a half years this week for robbing a paint company worker of $1,500 more than a year ago.

Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux jailed 33-year-old Calvin Leonard Richardson and ordered the time he had spent in prison to be taken into consideration.

Richardson was arrested hours after he barged into the Bermuda Paint Company on Brighton Hill in Devonshire and threatened to "blow away'' receptionist Donna Simmons on March 31, 1999.

It is understood he has been on remand since being arrested, which was just two days after he was bailed pending trial for possession of an offensive weapon.

Richardson has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and part of the delay in sentencing him has been caused by the delay in producing a social inquiry report, a psychological report and a psychiatric report.

Earlier this year during a monthly arraignment session, Chief Justice Austin Ward testily remarked that the psychological report was not necessary.

He said a St. Brendan's Hospital psychiatrist could be forced to the court to explain why his report had not been presented months after presumably being ordered.

Lawyer Marc Telemaque represented Richardson while Crown Counsel Larry Mussenden prosecuted him.

Mr. Justice Meerabux told him: "You committed a serious offence pretending you had a gun. People in Bermuda must be able to conduct their business free from menace.

"My view is that robbery is a very serious offence,'' he continued, "and it should attract a severe punishment.

"I hope the Prison authorities ensure that you will be given the necessary and proper treatment for your condition.'' Mr. Mussenden told the court Richardson knocked on the door of Bermuda Paint at 10.30 a.m. and demanded to see the manager.

He told Ms Simmons "look, I'll blow you away'', while standing with one hand in a jacket pocket, and grabbed a box containing the money. When he was approached by other staff, Richardson again intimated he had a weapon and threatened to shoot.

Once arrested, he told Police he pulled the robbery "to get arrested and go to jail'' because he was turned away by St. Brendan's for treatment.

Richardson said he was living in an abandoned truck and had not bathed in days.

In court this week he told Mr. Justice Meerabux he found it difficult to get counselling once released from care and was never told "the generic makeup'' of drugs prescribed to him.

"Yes, no patient information and monitoring at all,'' he said. "I was working at the time, but it was not enough to move out of the Salvation Army on to be independent.'' Mr. Justice Meerabux asked: "What about you going into a shop and scaring the living daylights out of the employees?'' "I'm sorry about it. I wrote them last year,'' Richardson replied. "I apologise for the matter and I still feel remorseful about it.''