yesterday remanded in custody.

Lee Eastman, 24, of Riviera Estates, Southampton, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to cycle theft.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Anthony Mouchette told the court that Eastman had been using his mother's silver Piaggio scooter with her permission since early May.

On that understanding, Sgt. Mouchette added, Eastman took the scooter on the evening of June 8 to attend a reggae concert at St. David's Cricket Club.

Eastman, who was not seen by his mother for two days, walked into Hamilton Police Station on June 10 and reported to Police that he traded the scooter, worth $2,400, for crack cocaine. He was arrested and charged with stealing a motor cycle.

Speaking on her son's behalf yesterday, Eastman's mother told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that her son needed to be sent abroad for treatment for his drug addiction and that Westgate Correctional Facility was not the answer.

While Mr. Francis agreed, he was reluctant to let Eastman out into the community until a treatment centre could be found.

And Sgt. Mouchette voiced concern that Eastman's addiction could put him at risk, particularly if he ran up a credit for crack and could not pay.

He added that the addiction could also lead to Eastman to steal someone else's motor cycle.

"There are all sorts of trouble he can get into that his mother may not be aware of,'' Sgt. Mouchette said.

Mr. Francis agreed, saying that Eastman's offence was a serious one against the community in general.

He also noted that Eastman had already appeared before him for similar offences.

Mr. Francis pointed out that if Eastman was in custody until he was placed in a treatment centre aboard, he would at least be accessible to counsellors and not subject to temptation.

Eastman was remanded in custody, pending a social inquiry report and psychiatric assessment. He will return to court for mention on July 16.