admitted stealing more than $3,000 cash in a Christmas time theft.

Andre Dwayne Tucker hugged his girlfriend before he was led away by Police after Magistrate Edward King told him that he would have been sent to the Supreme Court with its longer sentences if most of the money had not been recovered.

"Your record is clear,'' Mr. King told Tucker, of Boaz Island. "The public needs to be protected from you. Your guilty plea brings you no leniency. None.

You've got six convictions for similar things. Your record is not sweet for 19 (years old).

"You have to be stopped in your tracks, one way or the other.

"But for the fact that the greater part of the money has been recovered I would have sent you to the Supreme Court to be sentenced.

"If I send you up there and they give you a month -- that's not for me,'' he added. "Twelve months imprisonment. That's the maximum.'' Mr. King rejected an application by duty counsel Paul Harshaw to order a social inquiry report into Tucker's background.

"I don't see how a report can assist me in determining what penalty ought to be given out,'' the magistrate said.

"He's been through Corrective Training. You don't go down from CT. You have to go up! "A social inquiry report would be a waste of time because the recommendations may be thrown in the wastebasket by the magistrate. I don't think there is anything to assist me in determining what may assist me.'' Crown Counsel Graveney Bannister had told Mr. King Tucker was found in an office at International Imports on Par-la-Ville Road on December 22.

He told the manager he was looking for a blender for his mother but after being taken to a showroom, he walked out.

The manager immediately returned to the office and found a bank bag which contained $3,899 and six cheques had been stolen.

A short time later Police arrested Tucker, acting on information received.

They also searched him and found $93 in his pocket and $2,790 in his girlfriend's car.

Tucker told Police he had put the bank bag down the front of his pants and covered it with his shirt before the manager walked in.

He admitted he brought clothes and stole the money to pay for his addiction to heroin.

Tucker told Mr. King: "I apologise for stealing. I realise it was wrong. And it will never happen again.'' Mr. Harshaw said: "This is a troubled young man, not even a month past his 19th birthday. He was tempted by an opportunity.

"I can't help but think an inquiry by probation officers might be quite valuable,'' he added. "He might yet turn into a valuable member of society.

He's told me he has work as a trainee plumber. He's living with his parents.

"I can only suggest that if there is anything that Your Worship might be able to do to help him, then take advantage of it.''