A 19-year-old male pleaded guilty yesterday to using threatening words in a public place -- Ord Road, Warwick -- on December 18.

But he denied sexually assaulting a woman on January 14 in Pembroke.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said a woman was on the balcony outside her home on December 18 when the teen was leaving a lower apartment.

The woman told Police that he threatened her and said: "What are you looking at you white bitch.'' But the teen, who is presently on probation for another matter, claimed that he was provoked by the woman's racial comment.

"She told me to get my niggerish tail out of here,'' he said. "I don't take that word lightly.'' And Probation officer Melvin Simmons told the court that the teen's mother had verified the story to him.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis agreed that the racial comment was inflammatory.

"There can't be anything more provocative than that,'' Mr. Francis said.

Mr. Francis also heard that the teen recently found himself homeless.

"We had a bit of a rocky road with his probation,'' Mr. Simmons revealed.

"He was homeless for a few weeks, but we found lodging for him with his father. We are now trying to find him employment.'' This prompted Sgt. Taylor to suggest that probation was not working for the young man and recommended that a suspended prison sentence might keep him on the right track.

But Mr. Simmons said he still welcomed the opportunity to continue supervising the teen.

"I feel he has some potential,'' he told Mr. Francis who dismissed Sgt.

Taylor's suspended-sentence suggestion.

"What Mr. Simmons said carries a lot of weight with me...,'' Mr. Francis said. "I listened to what Mr. Simmons said about the distressing conditions of his life. I think it is in the interest of the whole community to keep him close to Mr. Simmons. If he goes to jail, he will be without guidance and who knows what may happen then.'' Noting how "highly provocative the word nigger is in this community'', Mr.

Francis also granted the teen a conditional discharge.

But he warned him to keep his temper under control.

"You've got to calm yourself down,'' Mr. Francis warned. A trial on the sexual assault charge will take place on July 22.