Idrin Paynter, of Marsh Folly Road, was charged with robbing Andrew Taylor of two pizzas, and $60 in cash, using threatening behaviour and possessing a knife with a five-inch blade on November 29.

Sgt. Cyril Plant, prosecuting, said Taylor, who is a secondary school student working part-time delivering pizzas for Shelly Bay Pizza House, received a phone call around 8.45 p.m. from a man at the Hamilton Parish Workman's Club who ordered two pizzas and change for a $100 bill.

Taylor took the order and went to the club but was unable to find the man.

He left the club, but as he approached the junction of North Shore Road and Workman's Lane, Paynter called him over and identified himself as the person who placed the order.

Taylor then gave him the pizzas and $60 expecting Paynter to hand over the $100 bill.

At that point Paynter poked him in the stomach with the knife and said: "Go away white boy.'' Paynter was arrested on February 1, and taken to the St. George's Police Station where he admitted making the call with the intention of committing robbery.

Duty counsel Mr. Mark Pettingill asked Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis for leniency, given Paynter's age, guilty plea and cooperation with Police.

"At 21 he is at a low ebb of his young life,'' Mr. Pettingill said, "but he wants to do something about it. He's admitted his drug dependency, and he appreciates the seriousness of these offences.'' Mr. Francis gave him credit for his frank admissions and his guilty plea, but said it was important to consider the community's justified concern about these types of offences, though he was unwilling to make Paynter the scapegoat.

He then sentenced Paynter, who has two prior convictions for dishonesty, to three months in prison for stealing the pizzas and the $60, four months for using threatening behaviour and three months for possessing a knife.

The sentences will run concurrently.