my a**'' after he was jailed for 30 years.

Rupert Elroy Archibald fired the insult at Chief Justice Austin Ward minutes after the judge handed down a 30-year sentence for Archibald's role in the 1997 robbery and theft of some $37,500 from the Bank of Bermuda in Somerset.

The 37-year-old will serve 20 years for using a firearm and ten years for each of two charges of armed robbery. The robbery terms are to be served concurrently.

"Is that 30 years?'' Archibald asked at the end of the court session.

"Yes, 30 years,'' Mr. Justice Ward replied.

"There's something I wanted to say at the beginning of the trial,'' Archibald continued. "Kiss my a**... Motherf***er.'' Previously, when Archibald had been asked before sentencing if he had anything to say, he simply laughed and exclaimed "Burn fire'' -- a term which can be interpreted as "down with the system''.

Archibald was last released from prison in July, 1996 after serving ten years of a 15-year prison sentence in connection with the 1986 gun hold-up at Hayward's supermarket in which store owner Roger Redman was murdered.

In the bank robbery case, Yusef Ameerbakka DeSilva -- who earlier pleaded guilty to charges connected with the 1997 robbery -- gave full details about the high speed heist.

Less than a year after his release from prison, Archibald, co-defendant Michael Eugene Dillas, DeSilva, and a man alleged to be Travis Dill formed an organised gang of thieves.

As Dillas remained outside the bank to protect the getaway motorcycles, DeSilva entered the bank and threatened a security guard with a .25 semi-automatic pistol.

He was eventually followed by Archibald -- armed with a .357 Magnum pistol -- and the fourth man.

Archibald then stood guard at the bank's main door and fired a warning shot over the heads of terrified customers and employees, as DeSilva and the fourth man vaulted over a counter and looted cash from two cashier drawers.

All four men then fled the scene on a pair of motorcycles to a waiting Boston Whaler-type boat on East Shore Lane.

However, Marine Police quickly gave chase and followed the robbers across the Great Sound to Riddell's Bay.

DeSilva was arrested soon after coming ashore. Dillas and Archibald were later found in a wooded area of the Riddell's Bay golf Course by Emergency Response Team officers armed with sub-machine guns and bullet-proof vests.

Dill was not apprehended until the next day, but was later released and is believed to have left the Island.

All of the items used in the robbery and the stolen cash were retrieved from around the Riddell's Bay area.

Before sentencing yesterday, defence lawyer Archibald Warner appealed for leniency and mercy for Archibald.

"My mitigation is based on instructions from my client,'' he began. "Mr.

Archibald maintains his defence and his innocence that he did not rob the bank. Therefore there is no question of remorse.'' "He maintains that he did not get a fair trial and that his conviction was bought by the prosecution with the lies of Yusef DeSilva,'' he continued.

"...In trying to impress the jury, Mr. DeSilva told them that Mr.

Archibald planned to use the guns against the first Police officer that showed up.

Bank robbers sentenced "Certainly when it came down to the wire and the chase was on at Riddell's Bay -- according to DeSilva, Mr. Archibald denies that he was there -- even on Mr. DeSilva's evidence, the guns were discarded at that time.'' And Mr. Warner continued: "All of Bermuda and the jury has heard of Mr.

Archibald as per his previous conviction and that is one of the reasons why he said that he did not get a fair trial.'' Also sentenced yesterday was Archibald's co-defendant, Dillas.

A Police officer told the court Dillas had a string of previous convictions including possession of controlled drugs, and offensive and prohibited weapons.

Mr. Justice Ward accepted Dillas' secondary role in the robbery, but said he could not be sentenced to a lesser term than that given to DeSilva.

DeSilva -- who pleaded guilty earlier this year and testified against Archibald and Dillas -- is currently serving an 18-year sentence.

Dillas, 32, was subsequently also ordered to serve an 18-year term -- two concurrent eight-year sentences for two charges of armed robbery, and the mandatory ten-year prison term for using a firearm.

He made no comments in court yesterday, but lawyer Victoria Pearman spoke on his behalf.

She pointed out that her client was a father of two with no previous convictions for robbery.

"Even taking the prosecution's case at its highest level, my client Mr.

Dillas never handled these guns with the intent to frighten, scare, or the like,'' she argued. "On their case, he did not join any plan until late in the day, almost the 11th hour.'' Photos by David Skinner READY, AIM, FIRE! -- Convicted bank robber Rupert Elroy Archibald hurls a hairbrush at a photographer as he is led away from Supreme Court to begin a 30-year prison sentence yesterday. See story below.