without being penalised for missing 30 drill nights.

Private Devarius Dent, 22, of Dock Hill, Devonshire, pleaded guilty to missing the drill nights but told Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King he failed to show up because of "personal problems''.

Dent was given a conditional discharge for six months after telling Mr. King he did not go to drill nights at that time because he was just released from prison, had no money, no job and nowhere to sleep.

He also accused the Regiment of having a part in his failure to show up, saying he went to Warwick Camp three weeks in September to report he was missing two sets of combat fatigues.

"They didn't do anything,'' he said.

Mr. King asked Regiment Adjutant, Captain William White, how long Dent had been in the Regiment, but the officer was unable to answer the question.

Capt. White said: "The onus is on him.'' He explained that Dent had to pay for his missing uniforms, pay any fines owed to the Regiment and finish any extra drills -- all internal punishments imposed by Regiment Headquarters for missing the 30 nights.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines called Dent a "persistent absentee''.

Mr. King said Dent should have a definite answer as to when he can leave the Regiment. "The man ought to know how much more time he has. He ought to know and he ought to know now.''