addition to a sentence due to finish in June 2001.

Stewart pleaded guilty to a stealing charge and a receiving stolen property charge yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

Magistrate Archibald Warner tacked on the one-year sentence, saying: "I'm not going to allow you guys to come out and make this Island a hell. Breaking and entering is serious and it must stop.'' Stewart was sentenced to 12 months for breaking into the Family Resource Centre on Mount Hill, Pembroke on July 17.

He admitted stealing an air-conditioner, 13-inch television, a video recorder, two bank of Bermuda cheques, a Sony cell phone, two cell phone chargers, a CD player, and a towel.

He was also sentenced to a year for receiving a $500 Tag Heur watch, two knives, and a small amount of cash taken from Jeremy Assong's Pembroke home on July 27.

But Stewart denied stealing the watch, knives, and cash and the charge was dropped by Crown counsel Larry Mussenden.

Stewart was imprisoned for six months for possessing housebreaking equipment.

Mr. Warner ordered that the three sentences be served concurrently, but consecutive to a four-and-a-half-year sentence for a breaking and entering offence in 1994 which Stewart is on licence for now.

Investigations revealed Stewart removed the air conditioner from a Resource Centre window, stole the items, and ran up a phone bill of more than $200.

Stewart was chased around the Saltus Grammar School's grounds on July 19 before being caught by Police on another matter. He was found with some of the items. Stewart was charged after the Police found "certain forensic evidence'' inside the centre.

On August 5, he was stopped by Police on Par-la-Ville Road and questioned about the watch he was wearing. He told investigators he found the watch some three weeks before in a church graveyard, but Mr. Assong identified the watch as the one stolen on July 27.

Yesterday Stewart apologised: "Since I've been using drugs for the last 15 years I've been back and forth to prison. I'm throwing my mercy to the court.'' Stewart then handed Mr. Warner a written statement. The Magistrate read it silently before taking a long look at him.

Mr. Warner then said: "You know, that is one of the better constructed letters, grammatically and otherwise, I've seen from someone in your circumstances. Clearly you are a man of ability and are able to communicate well,'' he continued. "That style of writing shows you are not lacking of ability and have had opportunities.'' DRUGS AND DRIBING OFFENCES ADD UP CTS Drugs and driving offences add up A Sandys Parish man who landed a $200 fine after pleading guilty to cannabis possession must also pay $1,050 for traffic offences.

When Police spotted Elroy Darrell on February 19 in Devonshire Bay Road, Devonshire, they saw him put his right hand in his pocket while yawning and then transfer something into his left hand which he dropped over a wall.

When Police retrieved a plastic wrap containing plant material Darrell, of Cochrane Road, Sandys Parish, said: "It's not mine.'' The wrap was later found to contain 1.15 grammes of cannabis.

Darrell, 23, also pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, not having a driver's licence, having an unlicensed bike and driving while uninsured.

Yesterday's, Magistrates' Court heard Darrell had broken his jaw after colliding with a car in Beacon Hill Road, Sandys Parish, on the night of July 19 while driving without his lights on.

THIEF FACES SUPREME COURT SENTENCE CTS Thief faces Supreme Court sentence Getting caught stealing $19.05 has earned a Pembroke man a sentencing day before a Supreme Court judge.

Thirty-eight-year-old Louis Michael Burcher was caught red-handed by Police as he left a Cavendish Close home on Friday morning.

A neighbour had seen him forcing a lock.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis this week ordered Burcher to be sentenced in the Supreme Court after hearing he has seven convictions dating back to 1982.

Burcher pleaded guilty to breaking and entering Ian Shaw's apartment and stealing the cash and possessing housebreaking equipment.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley said Burcher, who lives on a houseboat in Hamilton Harbour, was caught as he left the apartment at 10.30 a.m. Police had surrounded the building and an officer was approaching the front door when Burcher opened it.

He was asked if he was the apartment's occupant, to which he replied yes.

"The officer then noticed he was wearing thick yellow latex gloves and was about to question him about them when he said "okay you got me'', Mrs. Daley said.

During a later search, Police also found a screwdriver in his pants.

Burcher told Mr. Francis: "It was a stupid move. I'm sorry. Sorry doesn't make it better, but...'' Mr. Francis replied: "Having regard to the seriousness of this offence and your antecedents, I remand you into custody and remit this to the Supreme Court.''