Two men appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with robbing a tourist couple with a machete.

Ernest David Smith, 32, admitted to both offences while Keivon Eugene Scott, 26, denied them. The court heard Smith of Riviera Estate Road, took a blue canvas bag out of Diane and David McDougall's rental cycle on Tuesday in St. George's.

The bag contained clothing and personal items. When Mr. McDougall went to approach Smith, he pulled a machete from behind his back. The victim then backed away and his wife fell backwards on to the ground. Smith then escaped in a car.

Magistrate Juan Wolfe gave Smith credit for pleading guilty.

"I should be giving you more. Because you pleaded guilty, I am going to give you a discount. You're not necessarily a bad person but the drugs make you do bad things."

Smith received 18 months in prison. Scott of Spice Hill Road, Warwick, was released on $5000 bail for trial in September.