and a half years imprisonment in Supreme Court on Friday.

Sinclair Anthony Simmons, 46, of Laffan Street, Pembroke, had previously pleaded guilty to breaking and entering Rosemont guest house and stealing a TV cable on October 19 at 8.30 p.m.

Crown counsel Leighton Rochester said Simmons committed his first offence at the age of 13.

Since then, Simmons has had 25 convictions -- 18 of which involved theft and stealing.

Mr. Rochester said Simmons was released on licence on April 3, 1997, but committed another offence within six months.

Simmons had been granted "one last chance'' in April, 1994 when he was given a two years' probation after stealing thousands of dollars worth of goods in a three-month shoplifting spree.

Simmons was unrepresented in court, but told Chief Justice Austin Ward that he was attempting to reform his behaviour.

"I had all good intentions, sir, I wanted to become a drug counsellor when I got out of jail,'' said Simmons. "But I lost my job and the place where I was living ...everything fell down in the same week.'' "I went to stay with someone and found out they were using drugs a month after I'd been there -- and I relapsed,'' he added.

"My drug of choice is cocaine, and it's a mind-altering substance. I felt lowly about the whole situation I was in, but I didn't leave home that night with those intentions.'' Mr. Justice Ward ordered a two-and-a-half year prison sentence, which is to run concurrently with a 14-year term that Simmons is currently serving.

He also recommended that Simmons receive treatment for his cocaine addiction.

"I'm no counsellor, but I can tell you that no programme can help you more than you can help yourself,'' Mr. Justice Ward told Simmons before handing down the sentence.