A 23-year-old Somerset man who admitted handling thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen goods has been sent to drug treatment court.

Troy Harris, of Broome Street, asked repeatedly to be sentenced to his four months already served, but Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo refused, telling him a probation officer had recommended treatment for substance abuse.

Harris, who has awaited sentencing in Westgate Prison since May 12, was caught on April 17 with an Apple laptop and iPad belonging to Daniel Hill Sr, plus a pair of sneakers, with a total value of $4,200.

Crown counsel Karen King noted that Harris had been jailed for 18 months in July, 2012 after committing a similar offence, and would therefore have been within his two years’ probation at the time of his latest offence.

Conviction in a summary court for handling stolen goods carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment or a $10,000 fine, Ms King added. She suggested a term of 12 months’ imprisonment.

Harris said he’d returned most of the stolen goods, telling Mr Tokunbo he didn’t need drug treatment — but the Magistrate remanded him until the next session of drug court on Wednesday.