A Supreme Court judge questioned whether there were sufficient drug programmes at Westgate during a sentencing of a crack addict yesterday.

?What troubles me is the lack of substantial help at Westgate,? said Puisne Judge Norma Wade Miller.

Craig Wilhelm Stapff, 42, of Ridgeway Road, Pembroke admitted to breaking into A1 Market in Paget and the Bermuda Athletic Association between July and September 2003.

He was charged with ten counts of breaking and entering, stealing $3,650.80 worth of goods.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill told the court that Stapff stole numerous bottles of liquor, cigarettes, and cash from the two venues.

He admitted to stealing the goods and selling them on Court street, then using the proceeds to buy crack.

She said: ?None of the stolen money has been recovered.?

Ms Dill said: ?He has a slew of similar offences. It is the duty of the court to send a message to the community that this behaviour will not be treated lightly.

?About five months after he was released from prison for a separate offence he committed offences again.?

She asked for an immediate custodial sentence. Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill told the court: ?I have known Mr. Stapff for over 30 years ? my personal experience with him is that he is a kind-hearted non violent man.?

Speaking of his drug addiction, he said: ?He just can?t seem to beat it. He started smoking marijuana at age eight and all or some of his siblings have admitted to struggling with addiction. It is clearly his demon.?

Mr. Pettingill suggested no more than three years? imprisonment.

Mrs. Justice Wade Miller asked Stapff about his experience with drug treatment.

He said: ?I was in a programme but they did not have any follow up after you were released.

?I had a bunch of cedar work stolen from me and that was a trigger to cause me to start using again.?

Mr. Pettingill said: ?There is no point taking someone to a vital stage and then leaving them on their own.

?At least he is cognisant to the triggers.?

He emphasised the importance of public awareness with the situation of poor drug treatment programmes in Bermuda.

?People need to lobby the law makers to get the right programmes into place. The public needs to be aware of this.?

When asked if he had anything to say Stapff said: ?I am fully guilty of doing the crimes if there is anyway to make retribution I?d like to do so.

?My addiction has been on going. I know I need help in the sense of in house treatment.?

Mrs. Justice Wade Miller sentenced him to three and a half years imprisonment with time spent in custody taken into consideration.

?Involve yourself with all the programmes available,? she said.