stealing a woman's purse from a nightclub.

Losing all of his money on a gambling machine proved to be so distressing to Darren Andrew Caisey he turned and snatched Elizabeth Able's purse at The Beach on Front Street on May 7.

Caisey, 31, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court before Senior Magistrate Will Francis.

Mr. Francis activated a three-month suspended sentence for a similar offence and sentenced him to four months in prison for the May 7 incident.

Junior Crown counsel Veronica Gordon told the court Ms Able was in the bar around 7.55 p.m. when Caisey walked by, snatched her purse, and ran out the building and on to Front Street.

Caisey was chased by the woman's companion until he reached the junction of Reid and Court Streets.

A Police officer -- en route to Hamilton Police Station -- saw Caisey and later identified him to investigators once a complaint was made.

Ms Gordon said Caisey was arrested on May 15 and told Police he had lost $95 on gambling machines and "decided to snatch the bag''.

He also claimed to have dropped the woman's wallet on Joell's Alley without taking any money.

Ms Gordon said Ms Able's handbag was worth $100, her purse $60, and a cell phone charger was worth $30, but $130 cash was missing when the purse was recovered.

Oona Goodred, the duty counsel, said Caisey's behaviour was the result of a combination of Prozac and alcohol which caused him to have blackouts.

Casey apologised for his behaviour, saying: "I apologise to the court for what I did.'' CRIME CRM