the Hamilton Princess wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the intention to steal, will be sentenced next Monday.

Earlier, Darrell, 29, of Lighthouse Road Southampton, was charged with attempting to break into rooms 244 and 246 at the Hamilton Princess hotel and attempting to steal the occupants' property.

He was also alleged to have attempted to enter those rooms with the intent to commit a felony while wearing a mask to hide his face on February 12, 1994.

Crown counsel Mr. Philip Storr and defence lawyer Mr. Archie Warner were locked in legal arguments all morning although by afternoon they had reached some agreement.

Mr. Storr asked that not guilty verdicts be returned to the charges Darrell attempted to break into rooms 244 and 246 and attempted to steal because the public interest would not be served due to the cost of flying in witnesses.

Meantime, Mr. Storr asked that the charges Darrell attempted to enter room 244 and attempted to steal stay on the record.

Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward asked the jury to return not guilty verdicts on the charges of attempted housebreaking with intent to steal from room 244, attempted housebreaking with intent to steal from room 246 attempting to steal property belonging to the occupants of room 246.

Darrell then pleaded guilty to attempting to enter room 246 with intent to steal and using a mask to cover his face.

Mr. Storr said that a guest who was staying in room 246 saw Darrell around 7 a.m. on February 12, 1994.

Darrell was standing on the balcony wearing a grey coloured sweat top with a hood covering his head and most of his face.

She told her husband to call the front desk while Darrell appeared preoccupied with something outside the room, although he made no attempt to enter her room.

Darrell then climbed outside of the balcony rail and disappeared from sight.

Another guest who was staying in a room on the opposite side of room 246, also saw Darrell looking through its glass sliding door.

Darrell then climbed across the balcony to room 244 and the guest also called the front desk.

A security guard went to the location and the accused, on realising he had been seen, jumped off the third floor to the ground and tried to escape.

He ran on to Pitts Bay Road and from there into Pearman Watlington's yard where he slipped and fell.

The security guard then detained him.

As the security guard was walking him back to the hotel, Darrell said: "Please let go man, I didn't steal nothing, give me a break, I have a drug problem. My class is on Monday night, I need help.'' Police arrived and Darrell was arrested on suspicion of burglary. But he admitted prowling about the premises but denied committing burglary.

In an interview, Darrell admitted that he got caught but said he had started using crack cocaine again.

He told Police he was selling crack on Court Street that morning and he only had four rocks left. A girl came to buy some rocks and they smoked them together.

"I owed the guy I was selling for. I owed him money for the rocks I used so I borrowed a bike to try to get his money but I got caught.'' When asked why he was on the balconies near rooms 246/244 he admitted he went there to get money from one of the rooms. If the door was open he would have walked in but if it was locked he would not have bothered.

Mr. Justice Ward refused to order a social inquiry report for Darrell but said that any character or psychological testimony the defence wanted to enter in mitigation was admissible.

He then remanded Darrell in custody for sentence on February 20.