morning in Magistrates' Court.

Magistrate the Wor. Cheryl Ann Mapp made sure yesterday that both Southampton 17-year-olds got at least a taste of life behind bars.

She remanded Anthony Dillworth of Middle Road to the Co-Ed Facility at Ferry Reach for the night. There, he joined Aquil Richardson, of Sunnyside Park Lane, who has spent about the last month in custody.

Their thefts from the baskets of visitors' livery cycles were committed during March and April of 1994.

"Your spree is attacking the heart of this community,'' Mrs. Mapp told the youths yesterday. "You're attacking the tourism industry, which feeds everybody, including yourself.'' The pair admitted stealing visitors' handbags on four occasions on South Shore Road in Southampton and Warwick. Mrs. Mapp called them "the South Shore bandits.'' Yesterday, she dealt with social inquiry reports on the two youths and heard submissions from their lawyers and their mothers.

The thefts, which involved items worth an estimated $3,718, occurred as one youth drove the cycle and the other grabbed goods from the rear wire baskets of the cycles.

Goods worth $221 were recovered, as well as the charred remains of others.

Insp. Peter Duffy, the Police prosecutor, said the crimes attacked one of the two pillars of Bermuda's economy.

Both lawyers asked for leniency, noting that their clients cooperated with Police, pleaded guilty, and expressed remorse.

Ms Patricia Harvey, lawyer for Dillworth, asked for a non-custodial sentence, saying he was employed, had no previous convictions of a similar nature and the thefts were "out of character.'' Ms Victoria Pearman, lawyer for Richardson, said he client wanted "to turn over a new leaf.'' Mrs. Mapp said she was particulary concerned about the way Richardson "continues to re-offend,'' despite being given opportunities. He had been before the court three times in the last year.