after he pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to stealing $86 from a tourist.

The sentence came after 31-year-old Coltrane Orneth Ratteray told the court he wanted to make a complete change in his life after "15 years of drugs and prison''.

Ratteray, of Lusher Hill, Warwick, pleaded guilty last autumn to breaking and entering the Pillarville Guest House, on South Road, Southampton, in the early hours of September 11.

An admitted cocaine addict, he had been released from prison on August 10 and claimed in a letter to the court he had been on a four-day cocaine and marijuana binge and was desperate for money.

Before sentencing him, Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller told Ratteray: "While this is a small amount there is always present a risk for break and entering charges.

"This case is aggravated by its affect on tourists which in the long term could affect us all,'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said.

She added: "You should use this time wisely so that you can complete a programme and once you are released you can continue.'' Crown counsel Peter Eccles told Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller that Ratteray had an extensive history of dishonesty and breaking and entering offences.

Defence lawyer Juan Wolffe asked Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller to consider a prison sentence of much less than two years or suspending the sentence so that his client could receive treatment. And Mr. Wolffe read out a lengthy hand-written letter from his client in which he expressed remorse and said he did not want his seven-year-old son to "pick up my bad habits''.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller heard that Ratteray was seen as he tried to climb into the property owner's apartment.

Mr. Eccles said the man called the Police who arrived to see Ratteray leaving Georgia resident Thomas Black's daughter and son-in-law's room adjacent to South Shore Road.

He was chased and eventually caught and the money -- a $50 traveller's cheque and $36 in cash -- was found after a search at Somerset Police Station. Mr.

Eccles said later Ratteray claimed the cheque -- made out to Thomas Black -- was his.

Police contacted Mr. Black who found that he was missing money in the same denominations and a traveller's cheque. Ratteray also left a footprint outside Mr. Black's room.

Mr. Eccles called the break-in "a violation and a profound breach of trust'' and said an inability to deal with peer pressure made Ratteray a risk for re-offending.

Speaking to Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller, Ratteray said: "My biggest desire is that I become a new person.'' "It's been 15 years of drugs and prison and now I have a son,'' he said. "I want to show him I am his father in more than words.'' He added: "I know that I am a sick man. I don't resent anybody or blame anybody for this. I am looking to a higher power.'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller stipulated that Ratteray should be enrolled in Westgate Correctional Facility's drug treatment programme.