man to four months in prison for stealing a motorcycle.

Giordal Albert Smith, 21, of Tribe Road 3, Devonshire, received the severe sentence after he admitted to taking a cycle, valued at $600 and belonging to Raymond Packwood, from City Hall car park on November 12.

Crown counsel Larry Mussenden said Smith had an accident on the bike a few days later, on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish.

"After being informed that a plain clothes Police officer was on the scene, the suspect attempted to start the bike again,'' Mr. Mussenden said. "When he couldn't, he started to walk away.'' Mr. Mussenden said after calling the bike's licence number in, Police found it to be stolen and arrested Smith soon after.

Upon being detained, Smith said he had "borrowed the bike from a crackhead for $25''.

But in court yesterday, he admitted he stole the cycle and apologised for his actions.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis asked Smith: "Do you realise how serious an offence stealing a motorcycle is? "If you had hit someone in your accident, then you wouldn't have had any insurance to pay for their hospital bills.'' Mr. Mussenden agreed that the case should be treated sternly, adding that Smith had already been in front of the courts three times on unrelated charges.

He said: "I think the defendant should receive a sentence that will deter him from stealing again and also that we should send a message to the community that this sort of offence will not be tolerated.''