A man who admitted stealing $4,000 worth of jewellery and a motorcycle from his ex-girlfriend on Friday avoided three months of jail time.

Melvin Williams, 61, was given a suspended prison sentence when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court for the thefts.

The court heard Williams, of no fixed abode, had initially been sent to Drug Treatment Court after he pleaded guilty on March 9.

But Shaunte Simons-Fox, for the Crown, said he was deemed unsuitable for the court and had to return to Magistrates’ Court for sentencing.

She added that although a fine would have been an appropriate sentence, Williams was unemployed and she instead asked that he be jailed.

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe sentenced him to three months imprisonment and suspended it for six months.

He told Williams that he would be jailed if he was convicted of breaking the law within the next six months.

Williams stole a motorcycle belonging to Gloria Martin on September 1, 2019.

Ms Martin later discovered that Williams had stolen $4,212 worth of her jewellery and exchanged it for cash at Gold Standard.

Police arrested him on October 17 that year and recovered the stolen motorcycle and jewellery.

He first appeared in court on September 28 last year and denied the offences, but switched to a guilty plea earlier this year.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding court cases. As we are legally liable for any libellous or defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.