in 1990 after admitting stealing $1,500 from the Island's armed force.

Anthony Steede -- then full-time Regiment Adjutant -- took cash earmarked for the Junior Leaders programme, then attempted to hide the theft.

Mr. Steede, set to run in Sandys North with Ed Bailey for the United Bermuda Party, was sentenced to three months in prison by a Magistrate eight years ago.

The sentence was later suspended on appeal, but Mr. Steede was booted out of the Regiment.

Yesterday, Mr. Steede, who is current chairman of the National Parent Teachers Association, said the court case had not been an issue on the doorsteps -- or even mentioned when he was interviewed as a possible candidate.

He added: "My sentence was served and nobody's even raised the issue at all.

It's quite unfortunate The Royal Gazette has.'' Mr. Steede said: "Too often in Bermuda, somebody makes a mistake and they're penalised for it for ever and ever.

"A situation occurred, I paid a penalty, a very big penalty, and everybody has allowed that to be put to rest.'' The Supreme Court appeal in October, 1990, heard that Mr. Steede took the money while on a trip to Jamaica on Regiment business.

His lawyer, Kim White, told then Chief Justice Sir James Astwood that, instead of using the money to pay for a Junior Leaders programme, Mr. Steede used it for "personal purposes''.

Then-Crown counsel Barrie Meade described Mr. Steede as "using the money to have a good time''.

Mr. White told Sir James that Mr. Steede had intended to pay the cash back on his return to Bermuda, but was unable to do so.

He added Mr. Steede had made arrangements with parents of Junior Leaders to reimburse them prior to his original court appearance in August, 1990.

Sir James accepted Mr. White's arguments that a jail term was excessive considering Mr. Steede's prior clean record, years of public service and the small amount of money involved.

Sir James told Mr. Steede: "You have helped the community in many ways during your years in public office...I think in your case, the community owes you something.'' He added Mr. Steede had "stumbled'' and suspended the sentence for nine months.

CRIME CRM