chance'' for his client, a drug addict who confessed to stealing thousands of dollars worth of goods in a three-month shoplifting spree.

Sinclair Simmons, 42, was sentenced to two years probation on condition he attend His House, a new Christian residential drug rehabilation centre for men.

Mr. Marshall produced a letter from the rehab centre's director Mrs. Chris Atcheson confirming there was a bed for him.

Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade conceded she was "taking a calculated risk'' by releasing Simmons back into the community.

But she warned him that if he did not stay with the approximately nine-month programme, he would be brought back to court and sentenced for his crimes.

Mrs. Justice Wade said last week she would spare Simmons from going to prison for four years if Mr. Marshall could get a written commitment from an organisation to help him with his problem and provide accommodation for him.

Simmons was living in a derelict building and had no job.

Mrs. Wade had feared he would fall back into his old habits if she allowed him to walk free from Casemates Prison where he was awaiting sentencing.

But upon receiving Mrs. Atcheson's letter, she agreed to put him on probation, ordering an officer to regularly check on his progress at His House.

Simmons is required to live on the premises and be under "constant supervision'' for the first three months.

He will be given drug counselling daily and eventually assisted in finding a job, Mr. Marshall said.

The programme, which started in January, dealt with each residents' abuse problem on an individual basis, he said, and it was highly regarded in the community.

Taking the stand, Simmons told the court he needed the programme, especially the "spiritual life'' it would give him.

He had spoken with men who had successfully passed through it and said he was serious about following through with it. Afterwards, he hoped to get a steady job, an apartment, marry his girlfriend and be a proper father to his children.

Crown counsel Mr. Melvyn Douglas said he was "all for turning one's life around''. But Simmons had not taken advantage of opportunities to attend Addiction Services in the past.

Drug counselling was available in prison, he added.

Simmons had pleaded guilty to a series of non-violent thefts from shops between November last year and January this year.

He admitted stealing $3,000 worth of jewellery, a $375 leather jacket, a video camera worth $1,000-plus, track suits, a rain jacket and several bottles of rum.

He also admitted snatching a knapsack from a customer at the Chequerboard Restaurant.

Mr. Douglas said Simmons told Police he stole the goods to sell to support his cocaine habit.

Mr. Marshall said his client's circumstances "were a sad commentary on what cocaine can do to this community.'' In asking Mr. Marshall for a written commitment offering Simmons' help, Mrs.

Wade said she was willing "to give one last chance to anything that can turn his life around''.

One of his offences had showed he was "crying out for help'', she commented -- he had put on an expensive jacket in the men's department of AS Cooper's and then brazenly walked out still wearing it after talking to the sales woman.

The Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade.