A homeless man from Warwick was sentenced to six months on Monday for breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony.

Richard Allen, 46, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to breaking into Purvis Primary School in Warwick five times between November 29 and December 9 this year.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines told the court that Allen had broken into the school and stolen $100 from an envelope in a teacher's desk. Allen's fingerprints were found at the scene.

During another break-in a few nights later, Allen had stolen $5 from a different classroom at the school.

Mr. Caines told the court that Allen had admitted to Police that he had broken into the school because he was hungry and wanted to buy cocaine, adding that Allen had a previous conviction for a similar crime.

Asked if he had anything to say, Allen apologised and offered to pay a fine.

However, Magistrate Edward King sentenced Allen to six months in prison.

Convict denies escape

A convict was charged with wilfully escaping Police custody and damaging a Department of Corrections van in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Shane Edmund Todd, who was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment earlier this year following a litany of minor offences since childhood, pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Todd was represented by Charles Richardson and had his trial date set for March 4 by Magistrate Edward King.