road runners was yesterday sentenced to six years in prison for the importation of 9.7 pounds of cannabis into Bermuda.

Several of Ronue McKindly Cann's relatives and friends began sobbing after the verdict was handed down by Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward in the Supreme Court.

Lawyer Mr. Michael Scott had asked for a mild sentence in light of the 35-year-old's guilty plea, his full cooperation with Police, the fact that Cann "had a limited roll in the case'' and the "nature of the drug''.

On February 12 last year, Customs officers confiscated a black bag which had not been claimed after it's arrival at the Civil Air Terminal on a flight from Atlanta, Georgia.

The bag, which had Cann's personal details displayed on it, was found to contain four packages of cannabis with an estimated street value of $220,000.

Under questioning, the Warwick resident admitted his involvement with the importation. He told Police a woman he met in an Atlanta discotheque had offered him $10,000 to take the bag with him on his flight back to the Island.

A third person was to have intercepted the bag before it reached the airport's arrival hall.

Mr. Scott said Cann had been left "in a serious financial situation by a relative'', and "took a risk'' to get himself out of it.

Excerpts from character references and a social inquiry report read by Mr.

Scott described Cann as "family-oriented'', "a hardworker'', "industrious'' and "reliable''.

The court heard that he had no previous drug convictions, and had only undergone corrective training once -- as a teenager in 1976.

When asked by Mr. Ward if he had anything to say, Cann simply replied: "I'm sorry.'' The former Ocean View Golf Club groundskeeper is married with one son.