a day to feed his drug habit, a court has heard.

Police officers were called to Smith's Parish on September 2 after householders reported a spate of break-ins.

Alvin Anthony Leverock, 20, was eventually arrested by an off-duty officer as he lurked in trees in Pine Knowle Lane after fleeing from one of the homes.

Leverock, of no fixed abode, made off with a total of $1,338 in cash from the break-ins.

He was remanded in custody after pleading guilty at Magistrates' Court to two charges of house-breaking, three of house-breaking with intent, one of having house-breaking implements, and one charge of prowling.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley told the court that when Leverock was charged he said he wanted to break into all of the houses to feed his $150-a-day cocaine habit.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis remanded Leverock in custody yesterday and he will be sentenced tomorrow.

Police were called to Thelma Brangman's apartment in South Breakers Road after she reported a break-in, although nothing was stolen.

Leverock then smashed a bathroom window at Angela Kendal's home in South Road.

He stole a pair of hedge trimmers and a small amount of cash after forcing open a desk in the master bedroom.

Leverock was discovered by Donald Rance as he crept into his room in Watch Hill Road. After he ran off, Mr. Rance noticed that all the bedrooms had been searched, although nothing had been stolen, said Mrs. Daley.

Mr. Rance and his father, also called Donald, went searching for Leverock in Knapton Hill, but at that point the intruder was found lurking in the trees by the off-duty Police officer.

He was taken to St. George's Police Station where he gave a false name.

He only admitted his true name when he was shown photographic identification of himself.

Leverock, who admitted all the offences during a reconstruction of the crimes, said he had only stolen $5, said Mrs. Daley.

He admitted during an interview on September 3 that when he left the Rance household he went to a house in Knapton Estates Road which appeared to be empty.

He searched some drawers but fled when he went downstairs after discovering a maid doing the cleaning.

He then went to the Counsell family home in High Knoll Lane with the intention of breaking in but left when he found the house occupied.

Mrs. Daley said: "He said his intention was to break into all the mentioned homes to support his $150-a-day cocaine habit.'' Leverock was also questioned about a break-in at a house in My Lord's Bay, Hamilton Parish, on July 12.

The intruder broke in through a kitchen window and stole $150 after prying open a briefcase.

Mrs. Daley said Leverock's fingerprints were found in the house but he could give no explanation for this.

She said Leverock, who "lives anywhere he finds himself'', said he had used the money he had stolen to buy food, alcohol and cocaine.

"He admits he is addicted to cocaine and is constantly stealing to support his habit,'' Mrs. Daley added.

Leverock was remanded in custody until tomorrow.