of liquor from a club.

In Magistrates' Court Garth Hayward, 33, pleaded guilty to breaking into the Portuguese Association on Laffan Street, Pembroke on March 6 and stealing two bottles of Whisky, two bottles of rum, a case of beer and $30 cash. He denied stealing a cellular phone from the same property.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis gave Hayward, who has an extensive criminal record and a drug habit, the maximum 12 months sentence for the offence. An additional six-month suspended sentence, issued last month for another break-in, also kicked in when Hayward pleaded guilty to the Portuguese Association raid.

Prosecutor Veronica Gordon explained how the club's caretaker had locked up the premises at about 11 p.m. on March 5. When he returned the following morning he discovered that someone had broken into the building by smashing a ground floor window.

Detectives were able to take several fingerprints from the crime scene and Hayward was arrested last week. When questioned by Police he made a full confession.

Because of Hayward's criminal record Ms Gordon asked that he should be sentenced in Supreme Court, where he could have faced a much longer prison sentence.

"This is the latest in a series of similar offences,'' she said.

Sentencing Hayward, Mr. Francis said: "Just last month we tried to take a certain course of action with you and I sentenced you to six months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

"You have fallen very badly and lost your footing. I have to take into consideration your rehabilitation but I also have to take into consideration prevention and deterrence.

"If you are really serious about getting drug treatment you can get that at Westgate. But they are not going to lead any horse to water if that horse doesn't want to drink.'' MAGISTRATE ORDERS THIEF TO REPAY STORE CTS Magistrate orders thief to repay store A thief who stole a $569 computer accessory -- and then threw it away -- will have to repay the store he targeted.

Albert Rogers, of Lightbourne Lane, Warwick, admitted stealing a Hewlett Packard CD Writer from the Leisure Time store on Queen Street, Hamilton.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Gordon said the store's manager saw the 48-year-old enter the store on February 6 and leave without making any purchase.

But the next day staff discovered an empty box for the CD writer and used video surveillance camera to identify Rogers as the culprit.

He was arrested a few days later.

But Rogers, who had previous theft convictions, told Police he became frightened after stealing the part and discarded it on top of a pile of trash.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis ordered Rogers to pay $700 by the end of August or spend 60 days in prison.

A portion of the fine will be used to recompense Leisure Time.

MEN DENY POSSESSING KNIVES IN FIGHT CTS Men deny possessing knives in fight Two homeless men allegedly involved in a knife fight last week both denied using the weapon.

Police reportedly came between the men fighting outside the Salvation Army on Parsons Road, Pembroke, on Wednesday afternoon.

One of the men allegedly hurled a knife at the other. The second man then picked up the same knife and charged his attacker.

But in Magistrates' Court last week, Vance Stuart Ratteray, 40 -- with one eye bruised and swollen -- pleaded not guilty to wounding and possessing an offensive weapon and is next scheduled to appear on July 20.

And Calvin Richardson, 29 -- wearing two hospital gowns instead of a shirt -- pleaded guilty to causing bodily harm and not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon.

He will return to court on July 19.