A St. George?s man was given a six-month suspended prison sentence on Monday for stealing fishcakes and a chocolate bar after he told a Magistrate he was late for the start of a drug rehabilitation programme.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said he was not going to stop Dean Sinclair Burgess, 43, of Secretary Lane, St. George?s, from seeking help for his addiction but warned him that if he committed any offences in the next 12 months, he could be imprisoned.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman said staff at the Esso Tiger Mart service station on Richmond Road saw Burgess leave the shop with six packages of fishcakes and a chocolate bar, total value of $56.20, on March 20, 2005.

A short time later, Police stopped Burgess on Par-la-Ville Road. Burgess claimed he was going to put the fishcakes back.

Lawyer Leo Mills said Burgess had no intention of permanently depriving the owners of their property and asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

Burgess had several previous convictions including breaking and entering into Twins Variety store and stealing food and cigarettes. In 2003, he stole two steaks from Arnold?s Supermarket.

Mr. Warner gave Burgess a six-month suspended sentence.