breaks the law again.

Hill faced a long prison sentence after assaulting and robbing a man on Princess Street in Hamilton in April.

But sentencing Hill to a two-year suspended prison sentence Chief Justice the Hon. Sir James Astwood warned it was his last chance.

Hill, 40, who lives at the Salvation Army's Harbour Light building, is well known in Bermuda after winning a bronze medal at the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

At 4 a.m. on April 4, his victim Michael Summerville was walking along Princess Street when Hill grabbed him from behind in a stranglehold and dragged him into a car park.

Crown Counsel Mr. Mark Pettingill told the Supreme Court: "He said: `Give me your money or I will break your neck.' Fearing he would carry out his threat Mr. Summerville handed over his wallet containing $200 and assorted credit cards.

"Mr. Summerville recognised the man as Clarence Hill the boxer and reported the matter to the Police.'' Hill was arrested by the Police and during questioning he was discovered attempting to flush some of Summerville's property down the police station toilet.

He appeared in Magistrates' Court earlier this year, where he admitted his guilt, and was in Supreme Court for sentencing because of his past record for similar offences. He also admitted having a cocaine addiction.

Mr. Archie Warner, for Hill, told the court that his client had attended the Drug Advisory Services' programme and been a regular member at the New Testament Church of God.

Mr. Warner said: "Mr. Hill is well known to the Bermuda public. He won the bronze medal in the Olympics and served Bermuda well. He turned professional and started to box in the United States.

"In 1985 he came back to fight in Bermuda was not allowed back into the US.

This is where Mr. Hill's life began to go down hill.'' Mr. Warner said that Hill became estranged from his American wife and had to look after a son, who was now 14.

He said: "He began to suffer from depression because he was chained to the rock, and he began to take drugs. He became hooked on cocaine.

"He is not a vicious criminal -- he has been driven by crime to pay for the cravings of his cocaine habit. Although the latest robbery was traumatic for the victim it was only a minor crime.'' Hill has been trying to improve things by visiting the church and the drug service according to Mr. Warner, who said: "In boxing terms Mr. Hill is on tired legs. He cannot, and does not want to continue with his present lifestyle.

"The agencies he has consulted feel he is salvageable. Bermuda owes it to Clarence Hill to give him a last chance. He has demonstrated what he can do but he has erred and strayed.'' The Chief Justice said to Hill: "You pose a problem for me. Everybody seems to be working for Clarence Hill. You have had more breaks than anybody from these courts and you have not taken advantage of them.

"You have a 14-year-old son to think about. He does not want his friends to see his father as a man in Casemates. He wants them to remember his father as an Olympic bronze medalist.'' Hill, who had been in custody since April, was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years, on condition that he attended both the Drug Advisory Services' programme and his church.