him: "You can't get drug treatment in the United States.'' Chief Justice Austin Ward sentenced Gregory Lorenzo Nolan after hearing how he broke into a house, stole 554,000 Italian lire and tried to exchange it in a bank.

But he warned the defendant he could not go to a US drug clinic because the American Stop List would not allow drug offenders into the country.

Father-of-one Nolan, 35, broke down in tears when asked if he would like to say anything in his own defence before the sentence was passed.

He apologised to his ill, elderly parents and told the court: "It's not their fault.

"I just want my momma to know that it's not her fault.'' He appealed to Chief Justice Ward to allow him to go on an overseas drug treatment programme.

But the judge said he had no power to make that order.

He added: "Your convictions for drugs say you would not be able to go to a programme in the US.

"You would have to go on a programme somewhere else.'' The Royal Gazette reported last week that the Stop List now included known drug users and up to 5,000 Bermudians could be barred from travelling to the US.

Chief Justice Ward, who heard Nolan had become separated, recommended he register for the prison drugs rehabilitation course as soon as he began his term at Westgate Correctional Facility.

He added: "You have lost your wife already and your child is still watching you so you have got to be careful that you make the most of the time that's left to you.'' Crown counsel Leighton Rochester told the Supreme Court hearing that Nolan, of Friswells Road, Devonshire, turned himself into Police 11 days after fleeing from the Bank of Bermuda.

He said Nolan "became scared'' when he felt staff were suspicious as he presented his passport and tried to change the lire.

The court heard Nolan had stolen the cash from a house on Parliament Street in the early hours of Sunday, August 15, along with US currency and an Italian drivers' licence.

Days earlier, he had been seen trying to break into a house in North Terrace, Pembroke.

Witnesses said Nolan seemed drunk when he smashed a balcony window and ran away with a white cloth wrapped around his hand.

Mr. Rochester said: "He fled from the Bank of Bermuda leaving the cash and his passport behind.

"Eleven days later, he voluntarily went into Hamilton Police station. He was arrested, searched and detained and co-operative with Police.'' Mr. Rochester said Nolan admitted the offences and helped Police recover the stolen property.

The court heard that Nolan, who has a ten-year-old son, has a history of convictions for theft. He was last released from prison in January.

Turning to Chief Justice Ward, Mr. Rochester added: "All I can say is that he was released from prison on January 15 and now finds himself before your lordship charged with similar offences, just ten months later.'' Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill said his client, who pleaded guilty, committed the crime to feed his crack addiction.

He added: "He turned himself into the Police station and assisted in the recovery of the property.

"It's a clear cry for help when a man shows up at a Police station in order to assist in a matter in which he is the culprit.'' Nolan, wearing a blue sweater, broke into tears when the judge offered him the chance to speak.

He said: "I would just like to apologise to my parents. I just want my life back.''