A man with a 21-page list of previous convictions was sent to the Drug Treatment Court yesterday after he admitted stealing more than $3,000 worth of clothes and jewellery.

Magistrates’ Court heard that Coolridge Eve, 63, broke into Gibbons Company in Hamilton last Monday and stole 17 jackets and 28 pieces of gold jewellery.

A store employee discovered the theft the next day and called police, who recognised Eve from CCTV footage.

Police later arrested him and raided his Southampton home, where they found most of the stolen goods.

Yanique Gardener-Brown, for the Crown, said that Eve had stolen $3,425 worth of jackets and jewellery.

She added that his most recent conviction was in 2019 when he was jailed for two years for another theft.

Eve told the court that he suffered from drug problems and asked to be referred to the Drug Treatment Court.

He explained that he tried to stay away from drugs after his last release from prison but relapsed after the death of his nephew and sister.

Eve admitted that he had robbed the store to get money to buy drugs.

He added: “To say I was heartbroken is an understatement.”

Senior magistrate Juan Wolffe ordered a social inquiry report and a drug assessment and referred Eve to the drug court.

Mr Wolffe remanded him in custody until January 4.

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