emperor Haile Selassie received a four-month jail term yesterday.

But Clifton Anderson -- convicted of three assaults -- walked free from court because he had spent eight months in custody.

Cries of "Hallelujah, Jesus!'' erupted among Anderson's family and friends when Magistrate Ed King handed down the sentence.

Anderson, 31, of Bob's Valley Lane, Sandys Parish, had denied sexually assaulting a 30-year-old woman.

King threw out the charge -- but convicted Anderson instead of assault.

He also found the father-of-four guilty of assaulting the woman's friend, assaulting a Policeman, using offensive language, and escaping lawful custody.

Anderson had denied the May 30, 1995, offences, claiming he had no recollection of them.

King said Anderson's sentence would take into account time spent in custody.

"I am sure that he has served the period imposed and I order that he be released this day.'' Anderson looked relieved and smiled at relatives after King delivered the sentence.

Magistrates' Court had heard how Anderson approached a couple on Cavello Road, Sandys, and forced the woman to quote Biblical verses.

He then accused the man of having sex with her, before grabbing the woman's groin and tearing her shirt open.

Earlier he had approached another man, Michael Siese, and told him: "Repent before me or I will kill you.'' The court heard Anderson cried out he was Haile Selassie, a Rastafarian figurehead.

When two Policemen appeared, he punched one in the face before escaping. He was later arrested.

Anderson had told the court he could not remember the incident, and had never seen the people who testified against him.

"I can remember being in the location of Somerset between the gas station and Arnold's Supermarket and having a cold beer -- a Guinness -- but I cannot remember who the men were.'' Anderson said he later felt unwell. Afterwards he went to St. Brendan's Hospital and was committed.

Psychiatrist Sarath Anandagoda from St. Brendan's Hospital testified that Anderson was suffering from an acute psychotic illness at that time.

The illness caused him to lose touch with reality, he added.

Dr. Anandagoda said Anderson had shown symptoms of psychosis and when his urine was tested there was evidence he had used cannabis recently. This could spark psychosis.

He added the drug in the defendant's system, mixed with the alcohol he had consumed, caused the onset of the illness.

Yesterday, Mr. King accepted Anderson had no recollection of the alleged offences.

But he ruled that Anderson's mental condition "did not deprive him of criminal culpability''.

He pointed out Anderson had drunk voluntarily from the Guinness, which set off his illness.

"I accept that the defendant had no recollection of events.'' Anderson's lawyer Victoria Pearman said her client's psychotic state was a mitigating factor.

There was no malice intended by his actions, she said.

"I would like to point out these offences are alleged to have happened over a year ago.

"The defendant has been in custody for some period of time.''