A 21-year-old homeless man faces sentencing in the Supreme Court after he pleaded guilty to ten counts of dishonesty relating to stolen cheques.

Robert Damon Green admitted to Magistrate Edward King he had a drug problem and had sought induction at the Salvation Army's Harbour Light drug treatment programme.

"I've never had any help for my drug problem,'' Green told Mr. King. "I was supposed to go to Harbour Light today for my last assessment. I'm been trying to get in for a while but they say there is no space.'' But Mr. King responded: "We've tried everything for you. There are some people who say going (sending an addicted person) west (to Westgate Correctional Facility in Dockyard) is like taking coals to Newcastle! "If you want treatment you must make your decision up here,'' he added pointing to his head. "You have to resolve to get treatment. You can't come and blame other people.

"God helps those who help themselves. Man, you need to be going upstairs (to the Supreme Court) for sentencing. You need more than the 12 months I can give you.'' Green admitted to stealing three cheques from Michael Burke of Blue Waters Divers after he parked his van for two hours outside the squash club at Nationals Field in Devonshire or at his home on July 31.

He also stole $1,000 cash and $600 in travellers cheques and personal cheques at that time.

The other charges relate to forging, uttering and obtaining $1,135 from the Bermuda Financial Network and attempting to obtain $975 from the Bank of Butterfield and $872 from Dismont Robinson and Co.

Crown Counsel Charmaine Smith said that on August 2nd at the Bank of Butterfield on Reid Street, Green walked out on a teller as she walked away to call Police under the ruse of needing to verify the cheque.

At Dismont Robinson, on August 5th, the cashier walked to a back room to verify the cheque and called Police who arrived in time to catch Green.

He told Police he got the three cheques as payment for drugs from a man he only knows as "Paul'' and spent the money on drugs.

Green was bailed after questioning to appear in Magistrates Court in September but failed to show.

Mr. King heard that Green has an extensive criminal record, serving a correctional sentence for stealing two cycles at age 16 and was sentenced to two years and nine months by a Supreme Court judge for robbery at age 18.

In April he was fined $500 for stealing a cell phone and cash.