release date recently after pleading guilty to stealing money from his father's bank account.

But Joyiens -- like many drug and alcohol addicts before him -- pleaded against more prison time and begged Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner to put him in a "therapeutic'' drug treatment programme rather than the "educational'' programmes found at Westgate Correctional Facility.

Joyiens, 35, of Cable Hill, Devonshire, appeared in Plea Court accompanied by three prison officers.

When he told Mr. Warner that the theft was "outside of my character'' the magistrate read aloud the 14 years of convictions against his name.

"I have a substance abuse problem and these acts are totally out of character,'' he said. "By that I mean when I don't do drugs, I don't do stuff like this.

"Yes, they have programmes at Westgate but I haven't taken advantage of them because my counsellor says that won't be good for me because I need the therapeutic component (to rehabilitation).'' "Look'', replied Mr. Warner. "All this about out of character doesn't fit with your previous convictions,'' he continued, holding aloft Joyiens' three page conviction record.

"You put your character at issue and you've got a record of dishonesty going back 14 years. You've been given ample opportunity. You've been given opportunity after opportunity for treatment.

"It's my duty to see that this behaviour not continue,'' Mr. Warner concluded. "I understand your predicament but I always believe I should follow the law. Imprisonment for 12 months with a recommendation that you be given all available counselling and rehabilitative help for substance abuse.'' Mr. Warner insisted the sentence be served consecutive to a nine month sentence imposed in July for stealing alcohol.

The stance came over Joyiens' anguished plea of "I'm not getting proper treatment in custody. Please Mr. Warner make it concurrent. Please!'' Crown Counsel Charmaine Smith had told the court Joyiens' mother had gone to the Rosebank Branch of the Bank of Butterfield on July 5 to be told by tellers about a transaction her son had made six days before.

Joyiens' parents contacted Police and it was discovered he had been issued $1,500 by the bank after presenting his own identification. He plead guilty to three related charges of forging a bank statement, uttering it, and defrauding a teller.

Joyiens was caught on videotape making the transactions.

Duty counsel Peter Farge said he had contacted Joyiens' mother who said she and her husband had forgiven him, but wished that he could kick drugs.