after pleading guilty to stealing and assault charges.

Roger Eugene Lightbourne told Magistrate Edward King "they deal with you better up there'' when Mr. King said on Wednesday that he felt his sentencing powers were insufficient for three charges.

Lightbourne, 31, of St. John's Road, Pembroke, admitted stealing $1,500.50 from Eugene Wilkinson of Rockford Cycles, Pembroke, on December 23.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting and stealing $310 from Gerrylyn Outerbridge, a cashier at the Speciality Inn, South Road, Smith's Parish on December 14.

But Lightbourne garnered chuckles from about the courtroom when in response to a fourth charge of stealing about to be tabled, he said: "I don't know nothing about that. They must have been looking back there and found some Unsolved Mysteries or something! Absolutely not guilty.'' Mr. King set a trial for May 11 for a charge of stealing 50 prop jacks from B & D Jack Rental worth $7,500 between July 10 and December 28.

Mr. King heard that Lightbourne entered The Speciality Inn, took a drink from a cooler and placed it on the cashier's counter around 3.10 p.m. on December 14.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Gordon said he approached Ms Outerbridge as she entered the cashier's area to begin her shift and grabbed a $25 cash box with $310 cash float.

Lightbourne pushed Ms Outerbridge to the ground in a brief struggle outside before riding away up Collector's Hill.

Ms Gordon said Lightbourne told Police when he was charged and cautioned: "I just want to say that I am sorry.'' On December 23 he went to Rockford Cycles' Glebe Road, Pembroke, offices and spoke to Mr. Wilkinson, the manager.

When Mr. Wilkinson turned to attend to another customer, Lightbourne snatched a bank bag containing the cash and five cheques worth ten cents each.

Lightbourne fled by flagging down a ride a short distance away.