A man addicted to crack cocaine was told to "listen to Amy Winehouse" as he was jailed for three years for using stolen cheques to buy jewellery.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner told Rasol Ebbin he needed to take advantage of any drug rehabilitation programmes offered to him, but Mr. Warner also criticised the lack of a residential rehab centre on the Island. Jailing Ebbin, he told the 24-year-old: "I hope you will listen to that song by Amy Winehouse". Ebbin pleaded guilty at Magistrates' Court to seven offences of theft yesterday, admitting using forged cheques and attempting to obtain property by deception. He also asked for another 18 offences to be taken into consideration.

Crown counsel Cindy Clarke said Ebbin stole a Bank of Butterfield cheque book, five deposit books and a Bank of Bermuda cheque for $40.15 from the offices of Anfossi Management in Reid Street. The offences took place between February 8-12, with Ebbin stealing the items from the drawers of company director William Manuel.

Ebbin, formerly of Controversy Lane, Pembroke, and currently of no fixed abode, used the cheques to buy items from Everrich Jewellery in Hamilton. He wrote a cheque for $850 to pay for a bracelet, earrings, and 14 carat gold ladies' ring, and then tried to use a cheque for $713 to buy a man's gold ring.

Ms Clarke said Mr. Manuel noticed his bank books were missing on February 12 and shortly afterwards, received phone calls from the bank and the Police to notify him that cheques were being used without authorisation. On Ebbin's arrest, Police officers found four blank cheques in his pockets. He later admitted the offences in a Police interview.

The court heard Ebbin had previous convictions for 33 similar offences and was on probation after being released from jail in December 2006. Leo Mills, defending, said: "At the time of these offences he was addicted to crack cocaine. This can only be to some extent a partial explanation. There are obviously deep-seated problems here. Perhaps a referral to a drug treatment court may assist the court in coming to a decision as to how to dispose of Mr. Ebbin.

"By asking for 18 other offences to be taken into consideration he is taking some steps toward trying to clear his slate."

The court heard Ebbin had been thrown off the Camp Spirit programme within a day after he was spotted with a can of beer.

Mr. Mills said: "I would hope that people like Mr. Ebbin, who seem to be still falling through the cracks for a variety of reasons, might still find some safe harbour."

Mr. Warner said: "For years I've been telling people that with regard to drug treatment, they need a secure residential facility. There is none in Bermuda. The most secure residential is Camp Spirit and they walk in and out as they like. They can't expect people to benefit from these programmes if they haven't got the facilities. But they haven't been listening to me. This is setting these guys up for failure. There is only so much the courts can do."

He added: "But it is also my duty to protect the public. I will always err on the side of protection of the public. I hope that in three years' time we will have a secure treatment facility where he can benefit from a treatment programme."

Ebbin told the court: "When I got out of prison I was doing great for two weeks, but having no fixed abode and no job, I started using again. I don't want you to think I'm some sort of menace to society. I really tried for two weeks, but in prison I had no drug treatment."

Mr. Warner said: "That's another complaint I've made — that there is no effective drug treatment programme in Westgate." The Senior Magistrate jailed Ebbin for three years, followed by three years probation during which he must apply with any drug or rehab programme ordered by the court.