Magistrates' Court yesterday.

A warrant was issued for Keith Gordon, 46, of Victoria Street, after he failed to appear on both November 5 and December 22 last year for possession of drug equipment.

The December warrant was the second issued in two months for the same offence.

But yesterday Gordon insisted he had been in no trouble since a previous arrest and said he believed his court cases had been concluded.

"This is the sixth time I have been arrested,'' Gordon said. "Somebody has to pay attention.'' Gordon also claimed to have requested and received a closed hearing during which his outstanding drug offences were settled. He added he had documents at home to show he had paid a fine of $700 and dealt with the matter.

"How many times do I have to come to court for the same thing?'' he asked.

But Mr. King told Gordon that he still faced the drug equipment charge which he failed to appear for in November and December.

And he explained Gordon's previous court appearances were not completely settled because the court's computer had no record of Gordon having paid his $700 fine for separate charges of possession of cocaine and drug equipment on June 29.

However, Gordon continued to argue with Mr. King and even denied that signatures on four court documents shown to him were his.

"You seem to change your signature every time you sign a court document,'' said Mr. King. "You have produced at least four here. You could not have gotten out unless you had signed bail.'' Mr. King remanded Gordon in custody until his trial tomorrow, beginning at 9 a.m.

He also imposed a default prison sentence of 60 days for failing to pay the $700 fine for the June offence.

"That is the order of the court and I am only enforcing it,'' said Mr. King.

But Gordon remained hostile. "Now can I go off to jail please to start my sentence?'' he asked.

"People think it's funny. It's not funny,'' he said as he left the court.