jailed for two years for a money bag grab at a popular restaurant.

On Thursday Chief Justice Austin Ward told Lincoln Don Christopher he would have to serve the two years after completing the remaining 20 months of a 27 month sentence.

Christopher, 30, of St. David's, snatched the money bag from behind a cash register at the Black Horse Tavern on July 7 while on parole.

He was found guilty of stealing $740 after a trial by Magistrate Justin Williams in October.

After hearing Christopher's extensive criminal record Mr. Williams sent the case to the Supreme Court.

Christopher had only been released from prison on May 10 on parole.

By the time he was jailed for for 27 months in December 1998 for stealing jewellery, a backlog of prison time had accumulated.

Christopher was released this year after serving nine months in prison for the jewellery.

During an appeal Christopher begged the court for probation where he could seek more help than he would get in prison, telling the Court of Appeal "jail is not going to do me any good''.

In court he said: "I'm sorry for committing this offence and I'm getting help in a programme at Westgate called cognitive therapy and I've completed OSAP (Offenders Substance Abuse Programme which is voluntary) there as well.'' Christopher explained he understood he had an opportunity to change but he was "let out with no place to stay and no job and it seemed as though it was accepted that I would fail''.