months behind bars last week.

The court heard that Jay Ming, 26, of St. Monica's Road, Pembroke, stole from his mother and neighbour while out of prison "on licence'' for armed robbery.

Ming, who had served three years of a five-year prison term for armed robbery, admitted that he had a drug problem and to two counts of stealing.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the court that sometime between 6 p.m.

and 9.30 p.m. on July 21, Ming stole a 25-inch television, a video recorder, two bath rugs and a shower curtain from his mother Gloria Ming of the same residence.

The following day, July 22, Ming broke into the house of his next door neighbour and stole a Panasonic stereo from one of the bedrooms.

Ming, who blamed his drug addiction for the crimes, initially denied the offences. But when Sgt. Taylor read out a signed confession to Police by Ming, he changed his mind.

Sgt. Taylor said Police took Ming on July 22 to Hamilton Police Station where he admitted to the crimes and then proceeded to take Police to a house on St.

Monica's Road where he had hid all of the stolen goods.

Lawyer Michael Scott, who was in court on another matter, agreed to speak on Ming's behalf.

Mr. Scott asked Acting Senior Magistrate Cheryl-Ann Mapp to take in consideration Ming's change of plea, his age, the fact that he admitted having a drug problem, and that all the property had been returned.

However, Mrs. Mapp told Mr. Scott that in light of the evidence Ming had no other choice. And she recalled that the last time she was presiding over plea court, nearly two months ago, Ming was before her.

"It must just be your luck, I don't come here often...,'' Mrs. Mapp told Ming.

She also said it was sad that Ming had spent most of his adulthood in court and behind bars.

She added that Ming had been given every kind of break in order to get his life straight, but "out of it has come nothing''.

"You're back to your same old, same old...,'' she said.

When Ming stated that it was his addiction, Mrs. Mapp did not want to hear it.

She accused him of using his addiction as an excuse.

"It's sad when a man has to steal from his own mother to support his habit...,'' she added. "You are slowly destroying yourself, slowly killing yourself.'' Ming then told Mrs. Mapp he had no way of seeking help on his own as he did not have the money for overseas treatment centres. He also claimed the ones on the Island were not helping.

"All is not well with me,'' he continued. "I do realise that. I don't deny that. But how can one who has an addiction provide money for treatment on their own?'' Mrs. Mapp reminded Ming that there were agencies and groups set up on the Island to help people in his position, but he had to show he was serious about changing his ways.

However, she agreed with Mr. Scott when he stated that Ming and others like him needed treatment, not prison.

"I'm sick and tired of you and people like you coming in and out (of prison) and nothing changing,'' Mrs. Mapp told Ming. "Society is suffering because of you. Your problem is not being addressed. It's being swept under the rug.

"But I have to look at the larger problem. I have to protect society from you until you take steps to solve your problem.'' Mrs. Mapp sentenced Ming to nine months in prison on both stealing charges.

The term is to run concurrently, but consecutively to the two years remaining in his armed robbery prison term.