A convicted thief was given a second chance in Supreme Court yesterday when he was given a suspended sentence.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons decided to give John O?Donald Fox, of North Shore Road, Pembroke, a break after he stole $585 from a till at the Mid Atlantic Boat club last April.

Fox, who has several dishonesty convictions including one which netted him a four-month sentence in January this year, said he stole the money to pay bills.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill argued that everyone had bills to pay. She said Fox had never paid the money back despite saying he would.

Fox apologised to the court and said he had been without work when he committed the crime.

Mrs. Justice Simmons sentenced him to a two-year jail sentence suspended for two years but gave him a strict curfew and said he must take a programme in work and social skills.