A Pembroke man claimed in Magistrates' Court yesterday that he was the target of a West Indian hit team, but he took matters in his own hands.

John Sinclair Anderson was sentenced to two nine-month prison sentences to run concurrently after he pleaded guilty to stealing money from two cruise ship workers last week.

With four Policemen spread about the courtroom, and senior Crown counsel Brian Calhoun in attendance, Senior Magistrate Will Francis heard that Anderson, 30, cornered each man in turn, armed with two machetes.

Crown counsel Caitlin Garland said two men, Askirst Simon and Daverson Dublin, both of St. Vincent, left the Swinging Doors nightclub at 3.15 a.m.

Anderson, of St. Monica's Road, approached them outside the Spinning Wheel nightclub.

He told Mr. Simon "give me all the cash you have'' before he was handed a wallet from which he took $50.

Mr. Francis heard that meanwhile, Dublin took refuge in a car outside the Jamaican Grill across the street until Anderson approached.

He shouted at Dublin to hand over all of his money or he will "chop him up''.

A short time later the men were able to escape and Anderson got away with $150 from Dublin.

He said nothing to Police when he was arrested the next day but later gave a full statement under caution in which he admitted the offence.

Before being sentenced, Anderson told Mr. Francis he believed the men's money came from a drug deal and he did not intend to hurt them.

"Some guys almost killed me and my friend, Roger Lightbourne last week,'' he said, "that's why I had the machetes.'' He added: "Those guys were the ones who had been paid to come back next week to finish me. They have guns stashed here.'' Anderson told Mr. Francis that Police knew about the incident and that his friend was still in hospital and had lost an eye in the attack.

Anderson admitted having a heroin addiction and added he needed treatment for it overseas because being imprisoned would not work.

He added: "I want foreign help. The local help is no good for me. If I go to Westgate it's just more drugs and more problems.'' And he also said that Ms Garland's comment that he "had a penchant for threatening behaviour'' was a lie.