A 48-year-old serial thief has been jailed for 12 months.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court this morning, Antoine Raynor, from Pembroke, pleaded guilty to two separate offences.

He admitted stealing four pairs of socks from Price Rite in Pembroke on August 12 last year, as well as two pairs of Gucci sunglasses from the Sunglass and Watch Shop on Reid Street on June 16.

The court heard that police received a report of shoplifting at Price Rite at about 1.15pm. Raynor had been caught on CCTV putting the socks, valued at $76, in a knapsack.

He was apprehended on North Shore Road and later admitted the offence.

In the second incident, the complainant was reviewing the shop’s security footage when he saw Raynor place a pair of sunglasses in his bag and another in his pocket two minutes later.

The complainant reported the matter to police and Raynor was later apprehended on Dundonald Street.

In court today, deputy director of public prosecutions Cindy Clarke noted Raynor’s “extensive history” before the courts, with dishonesty offences dating back to 1986.

She also pointed out that he was handed a two-year suspended sentence, followed by two years’ probation, in March last year.

Raynor, however, insisted he had done a “90-degree turn” since he was last before magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo.

He said he was heavily involved with youth programmes, had found work, and was attending meetings after being unable to afford a detox programme.

He also told Mr Tokunbo that he had been “fighting this disease for 30 years”.

“I had a slip up,” he added. “I’ve changed a lot. I don’t want to lose my job. It took me along time to get a job and get back on my feet.

“I just had a little fall and I am willing to pay back the money.”

But Mr Tokunbo said it was the same “nonsense” Raynor had told him last time, adding that his “time has run out”.

He sentenced Raynor to six months’ imprisonment for each of the theft offences and revoked his probation.

Mr Tokunbo said he would have to serve 12 months of his suspended sentence along with 100 days for an unpaid fine, with all sentences to run concurrently.

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