Harry Wilfred Charles, 40, was punched to the ground and beaten while his wallet, containing just eight dollars, was snatched.

Chief Justice the Hon. Justice Ward seemed unimpressed when he heard the two criminals involved had become born-again Christians and repented.

The only way for them to truly repent was to pay for their crimes, he told defence lawyers.

And despite learning one of the men was battling a "terminal disease'', he remanded them in custody to await sentencing.

Reid Charles Dean Robinson, 31, admitted assaulting Charles on March 28 last year and receiving stolen property. Dwayne Robert Young, 28, admitted stealing Mr. Charles' wallet.

Crown prosecutor Mr. Khamisi Tokunbo told the court that Charles, of Jubilee Road, Devonshire, went to the Sparrow's Nest at about 10 p.m. and left at about 1.30 a.m., after a "few drinks''.

He decided to take a taxi home and went to check his bike was locked, the court heard. Robinson appeared and pushed the bike over.

"When the complainant reached over to pick up the the cycle, Robinson punched him, causing him to lose his balance and fall.

"Robinson then used his knee to pin the complainant to the ground and continued to punch him in the face and around his neck.

"Robinson then beckoned Young, who was standing nearby, and told him to take a wallet from the complainant's pocket.'' Charles was later treated for a dislocated shoulder and a cut lip.

Robinson told Police that Charles had staggered out of the club. A remark made by Charles made him mad, he said, and he decided to rob him.

He said he spent the eight dollars getting "pumped on drinks'' at the Spinning Wheel.

Young helped Police find the wallet at a construction site.

The defendants are Bermudian and single, the court heard. Robinson has a two-year-old child.

Both were unemployed and living at the Canadian Hotel, near the Sparrow's Nest, at the time.

Mr. Tokunbo said it seemed both men had engaged in careers of dishonest criminal activity. Robinson had a previous assault conviction.

Lawyers Mr. Archie Warner, for Young, and Ms Elizabeth Christopher, for Robinson, asked for social inquiry reports.

But the Chief Justice refused, saying the attorneys could say whatever needed to be said on their clients' behalf.

Ms Christopher said Robinson, now "born again'', lived at the His House centre for drug addicts.

He was working at Clear View guest house and speaking to school students about how his life had changed.

Mr. Warner said Young was also a Christian. "Special circumstances'' had brought about the offence, he said.

Young was suffering from a "terminal disease'' and was trying to "stave off certain death as long as possible''.

He needed special medication and counselling which would be difficult to get in prison, he told the court.

The duo did not go out looking for someone to rob, he said.

"There was some form of relationship and total connection between the complainant and the defendant in terms of their behaviour, their drunkeness.'' Mr. Warner said he was not ready to speak fully for his client. He would be away until April 18.

The Chief Justice refused pleas for bail and remanded Robinson and Young in custody until April 19.