A long-time cocaine user was jailed for three years yesterday and ordered to spend another year in a drug treatment facility.

Defence counsel Larry Mussenden, acting for Coltrane Orneth Ratteray, welcomed the decision by Chief Justice Austin Ward, saying it takes into account that addicts have a sickness and need help -- and not necessarily prison time.

Mr. Mussenden said: "Even as a Crown Counsel I always called out for people who are addicted to a drug or behaviour to get treatment for their illness.

"I think this sentence -- part imprisonment and part treatment in a residential setting -- is a welcome shift (by the courts),'' he continued.

"It appears that the courts are recognising that many of the people committing crimes have an illness.

"And I think that it is this illness that should be treated so that they no longer go out and commit these crimes,'' Mr. Mussenden concluded.

Mr. Mussenden had argued before the Chief Justice that Ratteray be given a chance to be in a "total'' programme of drug rehabilitation to correct a life of drug abuse.

"He was dealing with cocaine at 15 when perhaps I was dealing with GCEs and others were preparing to go to college,'' he added. "Five years in Westgate (prison) hasn't assisted him as well.

"Mr. Ratteray is the epitome of an addicted person that is struggling with this. He's spent a number of years in prison and he's not happy about the reason he continues to be in prison.'' Mr. Justice Ward responded he can "only make a recommendation for treatment'' not change a person's behaviour.

"Only they themselves can demonstrate the dedication and commitment to work through it,'' he added. "And we must take personal responsibility for individual actions. That's what's wrong with too many people. We must accept responsibility for what we do.'' Ratteray, 33, of Lusher Hill, Warwick, has pleaded guilty to three break-ins in Warwick in the months following his release from prison on a two year sentence on April 14.

On May 24 a couple awoke to find a man in their Fern Crescent apartment. There was a brief struggle before he escaped.

There were similar incidents at a Lusher Hill home on June 22 and at a Park Hill home on August 5.

In each case, the apartment occupants gave Police a description of the culprit and Ratteray was picked out of a Police line-up by the complainants on August 25.

Ratteray told Mr. Justice Ward: "I'd like to say I'm sorry to the victims of my crimes, my family, society, and the courts for bringing this on them.

"I've been struggling for some period of time, trying to get myself together,'' he added. "I'm not laying the blame on anybody. I refuse to give up in this battle to overcome my addiction.

"I'm just asking for a chance to live a clean and sober life and be a father to my son and teach him that drugs have caused this kind of disruption in my life.''