Routinely skipping out on Regiment duty since 2001 landed a man in Magistrates? Court.

Kenneth Sousa, 24, of Ballast Road, St. George?s pleaded guilty to failing to attend Regiment 62 times from January 8, 2006 to February 3, 2007. Sousa was conscripted in January 2002, but in October 2005, after missing his regiment duties over 100 times, Sousa was sentenced to three months imprisonment suspended.

As part of his sentence, Sousa was also required to return to the Regiment in January 2006.

Sousa said: ?When they restarted me in January I went through a lot of issues with drugs and I?ve checked into Turning Point and I had an appointment on Monday that I missed. ?I?m 24 and on drugs and I checked myself in.?

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said: ?I don?t want to get involved in the politics of the Regiment and, saying that you failed to attend, whether or not beneficial to you I can?t say. ?But you guys sign up for these drug rehab things before you come to court and you?re not serious about it.?

Mr. Warner sentenced Sousa to six months imprisonment and three years probation conditional on Sousa attending all of his drug treatments.