The mother of a Sandys Parish man failed in her attempt to save her son from the revolving doors of Westgate Correctional Facility in Plea Court.

Calvin Anderson, 39, of Ireland Island, Sandys, appeared in Magistrates' Court last Monday on five charges of breaking and entering between October and December.

"The issue is that he needs help," said his mother, adding that programmes such as Camp Spirit, which her son has already completed, were not enough.

Anderson originally denied the charges but when Acting Magistrate Tyrone Chin announced that he would be remanded into custody and have a mental health assessment, he had a change of heart.

"Being as I'm going to be remanded, I'm going to change my plea," he said.

"Are you playing games?" asked Mr. Chin.

"I ain't playing games. I'm guilty for everything, your Honour," replied Anderson.

Crown counsel Shade Subair said the first count involved three separate charges.

The first of these incidents took place on October 1, when a Devonshire resident, returning home, noticed signs of forced entry into his house.

The resident then discovered that a Sony Discman, a Pentax camera, a jar of coins, a bottle of wine, and a bottle of Heineken beer had disappeared from the home.

In the second incident, Ms Subair told the court that a woman living in Hamilton came home on the night of October 6 to see a rental scooter parked in her carport.

Ms Subair said a man walking from the doorway towards the resident, admitted that the bike was his before riding away. The resident then discovered that a TV set and $23 worth of Ajax laundry detergent had been removed from her home.

On December 19, Ms Subair continued, a Pembroke resident was awakened by a concerned neighbour who said they had heard a door slam in the apartment of the resident's deceased mother.

When the resident went to investigate, they discovered the door had been damaged, and a TV and comforter had been stolen.

In the early hours of that morning, Anderson was spotted by Police on Tribe Road 1 in Pembroke with another man. Several feet away, the Police also spotted a TV, covered by a comforter. Anderson was questioned and arrested, admitting to this and three other offences.

The second count, said Ms Subair, involved two charges of breaking and entering into two properties on South Shore Road, Hamilton Parish.

Residents were awakened on December 19 when the alarm company phoned to say that the alarm had been activated.

Police discovered a damaged bedroom window in the rear of the house, and matched the fingerprints to Anderson, who had already been detained that evening regarding the incident in Pembroke. Anderson also admitted attempting to break into another residence on South Shore Road that same evening.

"I am responsible for my actions," Anderson told the court. Admitting he had a serious drug problem, he added: "It seems my disease has more power over me."

"Can't you see between the lines?" added his mother, asking that instead of being remanded to Westgate, her son be given serious psychological treatment. "He needs help," she pleaded.

Mr. Chin, however, sentenced Anderson to 12 months in prison on the first count, reasoning that 12 months is the minimum necessary to entitle a prisoner to drug programmes.

On the second count, Mr. Chin sentenced Anderson to four months imprisonment for each charge, to be served concurrently, bringing Anderson's total time in custody to 16 months.