A convicted rioter and the sister of an MP have admitted plotting to steal $60,000 cash from the Bank of Butterfield.

However, Justin Denbrook, 27, and Juanae Crockwell, 23, were not joined in court yesterday by their alleged co-conspirator, Roger Lightbourne Sr.

He was said by Denbrook's lawyer to be "at large", having skipped his court bail and gone to England. According to the charge they admitted, Denbrook, from St. David's and Crockwell, from Southampton, conspired together to steal the cash between December 26, 2007 and January 1, 2008.

No details of how they did it were given during their brief Supreme Court appearance.

Crockwell, a former Bermuda Institute student, is the sister of Shawn Crockwell, a lawyer and Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP. He said his family is "supporting Juanae 100 percent to get her life and future back on track".

Meanwhile Denbrook has twice been convicted of gang-related rioting in relation to mass brawls in St. David's last May and after Cup Match last July.

He got a six-month jail sentence for the first, and nine months for the second.

His lawyer, Llewellyn Peniston, and Crockwell's lawyer, Charles Richardson, asked for their clients to be bailed in relation to the bank theft case.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons agreed, after prosecutor Robert Welling said the Crown did not object.

She ordered pre-sentence reports a psychological report, substance abuse report and social inquiry report for Crockwell, and a social inquiry report for Denbrook. She noted: "It is rare indeed for persons who have pleaded guilty to a serious offence to get bail."

And she warned: "I would just like for you to know that the fact that you have been admitted to bail, and the fact that your counsel may be seeking a non-custodial sentence, does not mean this court will impose a non custodial sentence."

The only reference to the fact that Lightbourne Sr., 42, was absent from the court hearing came from Denbrook's lawyer, Llewellyn Peniston, who said: "There is one other defendant who is at large, in fact, beyond this jurisdiction."

Mr. Peniston said after the hearing that Lightbourne is believed to be in England.

Lightbourne Sr. previously failed to turn up to Supreme Court in April when the case first came up at arraignments. Prosecutor Carrington Mahoney said the person standing his bail claimed he been given permission by the Police and DPP to leave the Island.

However, Chief Justice Richard Ground said he'd not given any approval for Lightbourne Sr., from St. David's, to miss the hearing.

He arranged for the matter to be discussed in a non-public hearing in his chambers later in the day, at the request of Lightbourne Sr.'s lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher. The outcome was that a warrant was issued for Lightbourne Sr.'s arrest.

Asked after yesterday's hearing whether action was being taken to bring him before the court, junior prosecutor in the case Kae Thomas-Pacheco confirmed the charge against him is "still pending".

However, she said she was not in a position to comment on whether there was any investigation ongoing to find him and bring him back to court.

Lightbourne Sr.'s lawyer, Ms Christopher, declined to comment, as did the Police officer in the case, Det. Con. Rohan Henry.

Meanwhile, a date for the sentencing of Crockwell and Denbrook is due to be set at a further court hearing on September 1.