An emotional 20-year-old man was taken to Westgate Friday following his repeated failure to report to duty at the Regiment.

Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves presided over the case of Kareem Alexander Musson yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

The Smith's Parish man was convicted for a similar offence in October last year, and received a three month suspended sentence. Musson violated the sentence within the year, and therefore one month of that sentence was activated yesterday.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith reported Musson had failed to attend 19 of the required sessions.

A visibly upset Musson told Mr. Greaves: "Everybody had left me. I was alone. I had no clothes, no food, no money to get up there. Nothing."

He said he had been kicked out of his mother's home and had been sleeping on his aunt's porch. But Mr. Greaves showed little sympathy, saying: "Maybe you should have been sleeping on the Regiment's porch instead."

The defendant then told the Magistrate he had doctor's notes for half the sessions he missed, paid for by his aunt. Mr. Greaves asked him why his aunt would pay for doctor bills, but not his transport there. He replied: "She's the only person that helps me out. I really don't get along with her husband though."

Duty counsel Darrell Clarke begged Mr. Greaves for a chance for Musson.

Mr. Greaves said: "Nothing in life is supposed to be free. That's why so few win the lottery."

He added: "I'm not a religious man, but I'm going to quote from the Bible because it really makes sense `by the sweat of your brow you shall eat bread".

Mr. Greaves then asked the Regiment representative whether he should lock up Musson or not. The representative said: "It is the position of the Regiment that you lock this man up."

Mr. Greaves sentenced the man to spend one month of his previous suspended sentence, and gave him a second three month sentence suspended for two years.Mr. Greaves then said: "I understand if you young people don't want to go to the Regiment. I wouldn't want to go to the Regiment either. But life has burdens, penalties, and you need to live up to your expectations or expect consequences."

"I went to the Regiment too, you know. Not in Bermuda, but for three years. I learned something there. I learned to play the trumpet," he added.