A man who stole a speaker from a Pembroke store has been sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

Che Pennyman, 53, admitted stealing the item, valued at $199, from Price Rite when he appeared in Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The court heard that Pennyman, of no fixed abode, was spotted on security footage taking the speaker and leaving the store on April 24.

Pennyman was arrested after an employee, who has known him for more than 30 years, identified him in the footage.

Prosecutor Adley Duncan called the value of the stolen item “relatively low”, but highlighted Pennyman’s numerous previous convictions, which date back to 1984.

Marc Daniels, Pennyman’s lawyer, told magistrate Craig Attridge that his client suffers from drug addiction and was involved in a detox programme.

Pennyman repeatedly declined to participate in Drug Treatment Court during yesterday’s appearance.

Mr Attridge sentenced Pennyman to 15 months behind bars for the offence, plus an additional three months for traffic matters.

He also ordered that Pennyman be considered for the Right Living House treatment programme, offered by the Department of Corrections, while in prison.

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