A 51-year-old St. George's man told Magistrates' Court yesterday that he stole a bottle of cognac because he was hungry.

Basil Melville Stewart pleaded guilty to stealing the $39 bottle of liquor from the Hamilton MarketPlace on September 14.

Prosecutor Auralee Cassidy said Police were told an employee saw a man steal a bottle of Hennessy cognac and an unknown amount of food.

As the officers questioned the employee she looked up and noticed Stewart standing nearby. She told officers that he was the thief.

Stewart admitted stealing the food and alcohol. When later interviewed he said that he had eaten the food and sold the Hennessy for $20.

Duty counsel Michele St. Jane requested a Social Inquiry Report for Stewart, saying: "Perhaps it will direct us to services that can help."

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo dismissed the idea, saying: "This man has been living on probation. It hasn't helped."

Stewart apologised to the court, saying that he would be willing to pay back the MarketPlace.

"I only stole it so I could buy food later in the night," he said.

Mr. Tokunbo gave Stewart a three-month sentence but suspended it for a year. He also ordered Stewart to make reparations to the MarketPlace by September 25.