entering, was encouraged to get his life in order.

Raymond Blanchette, 28, of no fixed abode, was arrested by Police on Keith Hall Road, Warwick shortly after 1 a.m. on Sunday.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told Magistrates' Court that Police had been investigating a series of break-ins along Harbour Road in Paget and Warwick and had the area under surveillance.

The occupants of a home on Harbour Road, Warwick arrived shortly after 1 a.m.

on February 1 and were approached by Police.

Sgt. Taylor said Blanchette left the property in front of Police and the occupants and was chased onto Keith Hall Road where he was arrested.

When told that he would be arrested and cautioned, Blanchette told Police: "I never break and enter. I walked in the open front door, that's unlawful entry?'' Noting that Blanchette had a history of breaking and entering offences dating back to 1986, Sgt. Taylor suggested to Senior Magistrate Will Francis that Blanchette be sent to the Supreme Court for sentencing.

But duty counsel Tyrone Chin told Mr. Francis that Blanchette was taking a shortcut when he saw the door of the house open.

He added that Blanchette lived with his sister in Jones' Village, Warwick.

Mr. Chin also noted that Blanchette said once inside the house he had a change of heart.

In his own defence, Blanchette told Mr. Francis: "I realised that's not the life that I wanted anymore.'' Mr. Francis sentenced him to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years.

"You've got two years to turn it around,'' Mr. Francis told Blanchette.

MAN ADMITS TO STEALING LIQUOR FROM SUPERMARKETS CTS Man admits to stealing liquor from supermarkets A St. George's man this week admitted that he twice tried to steal liquor from supermarkets.

Ricky Minks, 37, of Old Maid Lane, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court to stealing rum, vodka, and whisky worth $236.95 from Heron Bay MarketPlace on January 31.

Management and security saw Minks remove bottles of Carlsberg Elephant from a case, replace them with assorted brands of alcohol, and cover the box with a bag of ice.

Minks was charged $40.25 for beer and ice.

But once outside the supermarket, MarketPlace staff confronted Minks and opened the box containing the liquor.

Minks told Police: "The lady said I didn't have enough (money), so I told her I would get some more.'' He also pleaded guilty to trying to steal two bottles of Dewars Scotch Whisky with a total worth of $60.60 from Lindo's in Devonshire on February 1, 1997.

He was stopped outside the supermarket, but returned the bottles to the manager and walked away.

Minks was arrested for the offence on February 14, but failed to appear for trial in April of last year.

Duty counsel Tyrone Chin told the court Minks had a series of misfortunes including loosing a fishing licence and being out of work as a mason for nine months.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis sentenced Minks to three months in prison for the first offence and one month for the February incident. But the sentences, which were to run concurrently, were suspended for one year.

SALVATION ARMY RESIDENT FINED $100 FOR SWEARING CTS Salvation Army resident fined $100 for swearing A Salvation Army resident was yesterday fined in Magistrates' Court for cursing in a public place.

Gilbert Webb, 45, pleaded guilty to using offensive words in Pembroke on January 25.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the court that around 1 a.m. Police officers were dealing with another matter on Court Street when Webb walked by and started swearing at them.

Sgt. Taylor added that Webb was then arrested and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where he was subsequently bailed.

Yesterday, Webb told the court that he "was in an argument with someone else'' and did not aim his offensive remark at Police.

"I did not swear at the officers,'' Webb explained. "They were just behind me.'' Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Webb to pay a $100 fine and gave him until the end of the month to pay.

MAN DISQUALIFIED, FINED FOR DRUNK DRIVING CTS Man disqualified, fined for drunk driving A Southampton man was yesterday fined and banned from driving all motor vehicles after pleading guilty to driving while impaired.

Larry Benjamin, 39, of Granaway Lane, admitted to the offence which took place in Pembroke on December 16 last year.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told Magistrates' Court that around 5 p.m.

Police were called out to a two-vehicle accident at the junction of Front and Parliament streets.

When they arrived, the officers found Benjamin "asleep at the wheel with the keys in the ignition''.

Sgt. Taylor added that when the officers tapped on the window Benjamin awoke and stepped out of the car.

He was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and taken to the Hamilton Police Station where a breath sample revealed that he had at least 149 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood -- the legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Benjamin yesterday told the court that the incident was "not as dramatic as they (Police) make it seem''.

"I knew I had been in an accident,'' he explained. "I was just waiting for the Police. I was not asleep.'' Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Benjamin to pay a $400 fine and banned him from driving for 12 months.