were beaten up and robbed of more than $3,200 was jailed on Friday for a total of 15 years.

Kevin Howard admitted that, while acting with other men, he robbed restaurant owner Anton Stocker, 53, of the cash on October 21, 1995.

Supreme Court heard on Friday that two men burst into Mr. Stocker's apartment in Water Street, St. George's.

Crown Counsel Khamisi Tokunbo told the court that another man kept guard outside while Howard and one of the men broke through the door of the apartment.

He added one of the raiders was armed with a knife, while the other was masked and wearing what appeared to be brass knuckles.

Mr. Stocker, the owner of the restaurant in St. George's Moonglow Bar, was threatened and beaten in the face until he told the men that he had takings for the restaurant in a pair of pants under the mattress in his bedroom.

Mr. Stocker's friend Warren Smith, 48, Cotswold Road, Smith's, was punched on the body before the two men escaped.

Mr. Stocker suffered severe bruising and cuts. He needed several stitches and was kept in hospital for observation after treatment in the casualty department.

Howard pleaded guilty to robbing Mr. Stocker of money and cheques and burglary.

Pleas of not guilty to charges of wounding Mr. Stocker and Mr. Smith with intent to do grievious bodily harm were accepted by the court.

The court heard the accused told Police in an interview that he spent his share of the cash on drugs and paying off debts.

Mr. Tokunbo added that Howard had given information about his accomplices to Police and had indicated he would be prepared to give evidence in court.

Howard was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years on the robbery charge and six-and-a-half years on the burglary offence. But both sentences will run concurrently.