Machete-wielding Michael Reuben DeSilva attacked a man as he slept -- chopping an arm and severing a bone, a court heard.

Now the Sandys Parish teenager has a date with a Supreme Court judge.

Saying the offence was "far too serious'' to be dealt with in the lower courts, Senior Magistrate Will Francis last week remanded 19-year-old DeSilva into custody for a future sentencing in the Supreme Court.

He will be brought back to Magistrates' Court for mention hearings every two weeks until the Supreme Court can hear his case.

DeSilva had pleaded guilty on Thursday afternoon to wounding Leonard David Wilson on Monday after Wilson did not produce drugs he was supposed to procure or the money he had been given for the illegal deal.

Mr. Francis told DeSilva: "This is a very serious attack with a lethal weapon. And you kept swinging. Far, far too serious. It is out of my range.

"The judge might see it differently from me.... Attacks with machetes have got to be ruthlessly discouraged. We're getting too much of this.'' DeSilva, while he admitted the offence, said: "I'm saying, the guy was throwing stuff at me so I grabbed something to defend myself.'' He added: "I'd just like to say I'm sorry and it wasn't my intention. It was never my intention that it got out of hand. I've got a youth coming in seven months.'' Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said DeSilva and Mr. Wilson were at 4 Lighthouse Road, Southampton on Sunday when DeSilva asked his acquaintance to buy drugs for him.

Mr. Wilson later told Police he lost the money while riding in heavy rain after a minor accident. He was holding it in his hand.

He did not return to the Lighthouse Road home.

Monday afternoon, Mr. Wilson was at the home and sleeping in a storage area when DeSilva arrived asking, "where's that boy?''.

Sgt. Taylor said DeSilva was directed to the storage area and that Mr. Wilson was awakened by blows to his left elbow by the machete-wielding DeSilva.

He was also hit in the leg and later went to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment.

A severed bone in his arm was discovered and he was treated for bruising to his arm and leg.

Before a bystander was able to calm DeSilva down, he was heard saying: "I'll kill you! I'll kill you! You don't know who you're messing with.'' He was later arrested by Police at his home and admitted the offence under questioning at Somerset Police Station.

On Friday morning, DeSilva was brought back to Mr. Francis' court to plead guilty to riding a cycle while disqualified on January 12.

Mr. Francis heard he had been banned from driving from November 15, 1999 to June 15, 2000.

He fined DeSilva $500, giving him until April 30 to pay the money or face 40 days in prison.

Mr. Francis added to DeSilva's agreement: "At that time we will see if something else may develop by then, do you understand?''