A Magistrate has ordered that a Pembroke man who went on a crime spree to feed his cocaine habit be sentenced in the Supreme Court.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis yesterday remanded Charles Howard Ebbin after hearing the 40-year-old was released from prison in October after serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence for similar offences.

Ebbin, of Friswell's Lane, pleaded guilty to six breaking and entering charges and asked that 19 others be taken into consideration for sentencing.

Mr. Francis said his sentencing powers were "grossly inadequate'' considering the severity of the crimes.

Acting Crown counsel Veronica Gordon told Mr. Francis that Ebbin admitted to Police he has a "serious cocaine habit'' and had stolen more than $3,000 cash and property during December.

Ebbin was nabbed after he approached Artie Black, a King Street blacksmith, on December 27 with welding rods sold only at Tools and Equipment on North Street.

Ms Gordon said Mr. Black refused to buy the rods and later contacted Malcolm Simmons of Tools and Equipment.

She said that earlier that day Mr. Simmons had noted someone had broken into a storeroom but did not see anything missing.

A subsequent search by Police found the two boxes of welding rods near the blacksmith's shop.

Ebbin also admitted breaking into Probation Services between December 16 and 17 with intent to steal and breaking into Mutual Insurance Ltd. and stealing $22 and a $110 remote control car on the same night.

The December crime spree continued with break-ins at Tango Multimedia where he stole $495 worth of goods, and North Rock Communications where he stole $685 cash and $858.91 in cheques.

And he admitted stealing a portable radio from Carlsen Philip's law chambers worth $100 sometime between December 6 and 27.

Ms Gordon said that when Ebbin was arrested at his home on December 31, he said: "This is very early.'' On New Year's Day he admitted to the series of break-ins and admitted his habit.

Ebbin also admitted breaking into offices in the Imperial Building, an architect's and a real estate agent's offices and several law offices.