more convictions to his rap sheet.

The boy -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to another boy and a May 24, 1999 crime spree which netted more than $5,300.

Juvenile Court Magistrate Carlisle Greaves told him: "This is a very serious offence in the way that it was done.

"Having heard all the facts, we think that you will need a long time with a lot of help so as to override your criminal propensity. You are committed again for two years.'' Police prosecutor Eunice Lambert told the court the boy fought with a schoolmate on September 14 last year.

Just two days later, the pair met up at the Hamilton bus terminal. Police said the victim was walking west on Church Street when he was hit on the back of the head.

The boy fell forward and hit his face on a concrete trash can. He turned to see the 14-year-old with a metal pipe in his hand.

There was a further scuffle and the victim was treated for a laceration to the back of the head and two fractures to the jaw.

The 14-year-old also admitted committing the May 24 thefts -- from a car, three homes and a comic book store -- with others not before the court.

Items hauled in during the spree included a $400 cell phone and Nintendo video games.

When it was noted the boy returned to the Heroes For Hire comic book store on Princess Street three times during May 23 and 24, he said: "I went in during the nighttime and I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything.'' Mr. Greaves -- a Barbadian -- responded: "I like that. Wait! That's Bermuda Day. Did you see the parade? No? What happened? You were too busy.

"We have a choice to either send you away so that you miss one Bermuda Day or two of them -- or at least that's the theory.''