disco, will fly home to England tomorrow.

And the unhappy young man spoke exclusively to The Royal Gazette about the nightmare months he has had to endure since being accused of assault by his former friend, Miss Jennifer Attride-Stirling.

He now faces an uncertain future, returning to a country where unemployment is high. But he says he has the support of his family.

The Harrow-born 28-year-old resigned from the Bermuda Police Force after he pleaded guilty to assault and was fined $200 in Magistrates' Court.

But Mr. Pyne felt it was necessary to reply to stories about the incident which happened in May.

He said he met Miss Attride-Stirling in February and they arranged to go out for a meal at a Southampton restaurant. Mr. Pyne said: "I had called her a couple of times and we made a mutual agreement to go out for dinner. There was no question of me insisting.

"During the meal I got the impression that she was very self-centred. She had high ambitions for herself. She even went as far as saying that she was going to be the first female Premier, but it did not faze me.'' Mr. Pyne said that he never spoke to her, nor tried to speak to her until the night of the assault.

Miss Attride-Stirling has said that Mr. Pyne had "called me a couple of times'' and that he made the initial approach in the disco.

But he insisted: "I was in Flanagan's with some friends when Jennifer approached me and asked why I had not called. I told her I would speak to her later in the Oasis (nightclub).

"At 3 a.m. when the lights came on in the club I went over to speak to her.

An argument took place. She became very abusive. I am not sure why. It could have been the fact that I had not been in touch with her.'' In her statement to the Police, Miss Attride-Stirling admitted swearing and cursing at Mr. Pyne because, she said, his presence was not welcome.

Then the assault occurred, which Mr. Pyne described as: "A bit of a shoving match. I pushed her and she pushed me. Then she left.

"I spoke to the head of security at the club and he told me that he had seen her leave and Jennifer was laughing and joking as she left. Then on Sunday she reported me. I believed she was pushed by her family to take some action.'' Miss Attride-Stirling tells a different story, saying that Mr. Pyne put his fingers down the front of her bustier and touched in between her breasts. She said she had been upset and angered by the incident.

Mr. Pyne said: "It was difficult because it was my word against hers and her friend's. I did plead guilty to common assault because they told me they were going to drop the sexual assault charges. I felt that I had to avoid any chance of being found guilty of sexual assault so I had to plead guilty to assault.'' In court Mr. Pyne was praised by his evaluator, Acting Chief Inspector Norrell Hull who described him as "unassuming, with a quiet disposition, working to the satisfaction of his supervisors''.

He came to Bermuda in February, 1991 with similar glowing reports from the Metropolitan Police after three years' service. He was due to work out a five-year contract.

Now he fears that, despite holding a dual honours degree in Ancient History and Classical Civilisations, he will struggle to get a job in England.

Mr. Pyne said: "I will not apply immediately for the Police force -- maybe in the future. I will try to get into teaching or something like that.

"My family are quite happy that I am going back. They have not seen me for some time.'' He is now trying to forget the past and concentrate on the future. He said: "The last few months have been very testing.

"I am sorry to be leaving. I love Bermuda. Most of the people are friendly. I am going to miss my involvement in things like the bridge club, diving, golf and rugby. I made a lot of friends. I would like to have stayed.'' He also pointed out that he had no complaints about the Police or any action they had to take in suspending him.

In fact, Mr. Pyne said: "My colleagues are holding a barbecue to help to pay for my leaving fees. They have been very good friends.'' MR. SEAN PYNE -- worried about his job prospects.