Not having a father is a poor excuse for carrying a knife and robbing a gas station, Chief Justice Austin Ward said this week.

And he said that had Alvin Jamel Terricho Hassell, whom he sentenced to seven years in prison for the offences, had "a good whipping" as a child, he would have had moral fibre.

Hassell, 22, of Middle Terrace, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to robbing the Flatts Gas Station and stabbing the cashier in the back on April 11, 2001.

In mitigation for his client, lawyer Larry Mussenden said Hassell had not benefited from a positive father figure in his home and that when he did see his father he was abused by him.

"Hassell had gone to stay with his father and his father hit him," said Mr. Mussenden. "And he is not very bright."

But Mr. Justice Ward said: "He probably deserved a whipping. It's about moral fibre.

"The fact that he is not very bright has nothing to do with stealing something which is not yours and stabbing someone.

"As for whippings, I know that I certainly had enough in my day and it didn't do me any harm.

"Being bought up without a father is an excuse created by do-gooders who don't care and who live in ivory towers.

"Many people have been bought up by single mothers - a child can also become fatherless if his father dies."

Earlier, Crown counsel Juan Wolffe asked for an immediate custodial sentence.

He said: "The gas station is very much like a mama and papa store and they are particularly vulnerable to criminals.

"Hassell and his co-conspirators were seen across the street near Four Star Pizza, before they robbed the gas station of over $3,000."

Colsey Osworth Gift, 45, and Shawn Albert Smith, 26, are the other two men allegedly involved in the robbery.

They are due to come to trial on April 3.

In a victim impact statement, Christopher Pedro said he was now afraid of customers and still feels pain from his wound.

Mr. Wolffe said there was no need for Hassell to have stabbed the cashier, as the till was open.

Hassell has drug and vehicle convictions dating back to 1999.

Mr. Mussenden suggested a combination sentence, one where his client would receive four to six years in prison followed by two to three years probation.

He said one of Hassell's teachers, Dr. Gina Tucker, had written in a social inquiry report: "If only he would stay away from bad company he would be all right".

But Mr. Justice Ward said: "A man is judged by the company he keeps."

Mr. Mussenden said Hassell had had the benefit of reflection and was very remorseful during two years on remand.

Mr. Mussenden asked that Hassell receive help in prison for his drinking, as it was directly related to the incident.

Hassell apologised to the court, the prosecutor, the judge, his victim, the gas station and his family.

He said: "I am deeply remorseful. I have spent the last two years reading lots of books including the Bible.

"I understand were I went wrong. I pray for forgiveness from every one that I hurt.

"I conclude by saying that I am very remorseful and I never plan to come before these courts again - not even for a traffic offence."

Mr. Ward sentenced Hassell to seven years for aggravated burglary and six years for grievous bodily harm to run currently with the two years spent on remand taken into consideration.

The Chief Justice recommended anger management classes and alcohol counselling as part of Hassell's sentence.