A man accused of a stack of break-ins finally took to the witness stand at his trial yesterday -- and promptly admitted that he lied to Police when questioned about the crimes.

Arnett Dill, 43, from Leacraft Hill Road, Southampton, is charged with five counts of breaking and entering, five counts of receiving stolen goods, two counts of causing wilful damage and one count of arson following a crime spree last Christmas.

He was finally arrested outside the Paget branch of the Trimingham's store in the early hours of January 4 along with his cousin, John Jefferis.

Jefferis is now serving a three year prison term after confessing to taking part in three of the burglaries.

Yesterday, when first questioned by prosecutor Patrick Doherty about statements Dill made to the Police following his arrest, the accused man confirmed that all his answers had been true.

"I'm only interested in the facts,'' he said when Mr. Doherty put it to him that he was lying.

But he then repeatedly contradicted himself, first saying that he had picked up some of the stolen property, including a television set, video and camcorder, at house sales, then saying that he could not remember where it came from, then saying that it had been given to him by his cousin.

"Jeferis gave me those items in lieu of rent,'' he said.

"But you said you got them from a house sale -- that's a lie,'' Mr. Doherty retorted.

"I was only trying to make sure I held onto the items from the house sale,'' Dill countered.

"I was just answering the questions with whatever came into my mind. I think you are getting technical.

"So you were answering questions with answers that were inaccurate, you were supplying Police with inaccurate information?'' Mr. Doherty said.

"I guess I can agree to that,'' replied Dill. "I was just trying to cover for the items, I was trying to hold onto what I thought was mine.

Mr. Doherty then suggested that Dill had only wanted to hang onto those particular items, all stolen from the Audio Visual Electronics store, because he was convinced that he had destroyed all evidence of the crime by setting fire to the property.

Dill was also asked about the night he was arrested along with Jefferis at the rear of the Trimingham's store in Paget on the night of January 4.

He explained that he was going to a house party and was wearing gardener's gloves because it was cold but was unable to explain why his cousin was carrying a torchlight and other tools.

When cross-examined by defence counsel Peter Farge, Dill explained that he spent every night from December 31 until his arrest on January 4 out clubbing until the early hours of the morning. It was between those dates that the former Club Med was raided. A large quantity of the stolen property was later recovered at Dill's home.

Stolen property with a total value of $80,000, was also recovered from Dill's office on Front Street and his station wagon.

The prosecution is expected to finish its cross examination today, the twelfth day of the trial.