spent Christmas in prison.

"There is something called a day of reckoning,'' Magistrate Edward King told Gary Denton Williams of Broom Street, Sandys Parish.

"You can postpone it, but when the time comes you have to face it.'' Williams pleaded guilty to riding an unlicensed -- and at times uninsured -- motorcycle without a valid driver's licence on numerous occasions dating back to October last year.

Many of the offences were committed only a day or two apart.

Penalties for the various offences ranged from $50 or five days in prison, to $250 or 28 days in prison.

And the total amount reached almost $5,000 and 19 months in prison.

Mr. King also pointed out that numerous warrants had been issued because the delinquent driver never paid his fines.

"This man has repeatedly flouted the law,'' he said. "Not only did he commit the offences, but he refused to come to court.'' And he ordered Williams to serve all his default prison terms consecutively.

Throughout the lengthy hearing, both Mr. Williams and duty counsel Elizabeth Christopher made repeated appeals to Mr. King.

"I've been fending for myself since I was a little kid,'' said Williams. "I can pay $400 a month.'' He also asked for further time to pay and offered to perform community service.