Stealing T-shirts from a Hamilton shop and trespassing on private property cost a Salvation Army resident $200 this week.

Derrick Darrell, 40, pleaded guilty to the charges on Monday when he appeared in Magistrates' Court.

Prosecuting, Sgt. Wilbert McLean said Darrell was seen leaving Serendipity on Reid Street last Friday without paying for two shirts he had taken off the clothes rack. The shirts were worth $63.95.

"When the store owner saw Darrell leave the store without paying, he ran outside to confront him and saw that he was stuffing the shirts in a carry-on bag,'' Sgt. McLean said.

After being questioned about the shirts, Darrell gave them back. Police were called and informed about the incident.

Half an hour later, Police found Darrell on the grounds of an abandoned building on Union Street owned by the Bermuda Nursing Association. He was questioned about the theft, and also told that he was trespassing on the Nursing Association property, which displayed a No Trespassing sign.

Sgt. McLean said Darrell told officers that drug addiction was the reason behind the offences.

When asked by Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis if he had anything to say, Darrell replied: "I gave the shirts back to the guy...but as far as the trespassing I went to the abandoned building to relieve myself. I thought that was the best spot for me to go.'' Mr. Francis fined Darrell $200 for stealing the shirts, and for trespassing gave him a conditional discharge for six months.