The sentencing of three schoolboys for the Harrington Sound Primary School arson has been delayed because social inquiry reports were only produced yesterday.

The boys will be sentenced on January 26 after their lawyers make submissions to the Juvenile Court hearing chaired by Magistrate Carlisle Greaves.

Despite Mr. Greaves last month saying there would be no further delays beyond yesterday's scheduled hearing, he said: "Again we have no choice but to delay.

"This is a court of justice and they are entitled to make submissions based on these reports. But let me say this, we will do everything that day -- even if we have to work all through the night.'' Mr. Greaves held a chambers meeting with the boys' lawyers, Saul Froomkin, Delroy Duncan, and Mark Pettingill and Crown counsel Patrick Doherty.

He later called in the boys -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- and explained the reports had only been presented to defence lawyers minutes before and they had requested time to deliberate their contents.

"Going forward today would not give them adequate representation,'' Mr.

Greaves said. "It's unfortunate we did not account for this. But I think it's good in law that we adjourn.'' He added to knowing smiles in the courtroom: "Certainly to go forward would be a decision subject to reversal in the higher courts. And I really do not believe in wasting the time of higher courts!'' The case was originally set for trial this week, but the boys' plea changed in October.

They have admitted setting fire on February 19 to paper in the school, knowing it was likely to catch fire.

EXPENSIVE DRINK CTS Expensive drink Being drunk in a public place cost a Warwick man $500 yesterday. Marvin Paynter, 49, of Spice Hill Road, denied the charge of being drunk and incapable of taking care of himself.

P.c. Milton Douglas told Magistrates' Court that on May 8 at 5.47 p.m., he saw Paynter asleep in the bus shelter opposite Grotto Bay Hotel on North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish.

P.c. Douglas attempted unsuccessfully to wake Paynter. He noticed that Paynter smelled strongly of alcohol.

The ambulance was called and emergency medical technicians examined Paynter, finding nothing physically wrong.

When asked if he had been drinking, Paynter replied: "Yeah, I had a few drinks, but between that and the sun, I needed to rest.'' He was then warned and told to go home.

P.c. Douglas said he watched Paynter as he walked off toward the Perfume Factory.

He noticed that he could not walk a straight line and stumbled.

P.c. Alami Nerrouni told the court that he saw Paynter laying down in another bus shelter at the junction of Fractious Street and North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish around 9.15 p.m. the same day.

He said his attempts to wake Paynter were unsuccessful.

P.c. Nerrouni said Paynter smelled strongly of alcohol. He told the court that he attempted to lift Paynter to his feet, but he could not.

Paynter was arrested and taken to the St. George's Police Station and detained.

In court yesterday, Paynter sat calmly through he proceedings.

When asked if he had anything to say in his defence, he replied: "I was drinking and I was tired. I was not drunk.'' Magistrate Archibald Warner stated that Paynter was wasting his time and fined him $500.

LIQUOR STOLEN CRM Liquor stolen Police are looking for the person who pilfered 14 bottles of alcohol yesterday afternoon from Dockyard's Pirate's Landing restaurant.

An employee reported that sometime between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. the bottles were taken. Western CID are investigating the theft.