A homeless, unemployed 53-year-old man was sentenced to nine months in prison in the Magistrates? Court on Friday for stealing two motorcycles from TCD.

David Fough pleaded guilty to stealing the two motorcycles between March 24 and March 31 from the TCD offices in Hamilton.

Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court the cycles, valued at $3,000 each, were stolen on two different occasions. She said Police saw Fough riding one of the motorcycles along Hermitage Road, but he abandoned the cycle and got away.

Ms Tyndale said on March 31 he was seen near the Town Hall standing beside the second stolen cycle. He was arrested.

She told the court that Fough had 15 prior similar convictions dating from as far back as 1964.

Fough was sentenced to nine months in prison. He was about to leave court with Police, when he was held back for another matter. Ms Tyndale told the court that on July 27, 2004, the owner of a Peugeot motorcycle left the keys in the seat lock by accident.

The motorcycle was stolen, but in August, 2004, the owner was driving through town and saw Fough pass her on her motorcycle.

She gave chase and called the Police from her mobile phone. Fough was arrested. He pleaded guilty and Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced him to six months in prison ? to run concurrent with the previous sentence.