worth of jewellery from two Hamilton stores.

Jason Sinclare Liburd, 29, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft yesterday.

At 12.40 p.m. on March 17, Liburd entered Crisson's jewellery store on Front Street and asked to see some jewellery.

The store clerk removed an 18 carat gold chain, a 14 carat gold bracelet and an 18 carat gold and diamond ring from the display case for him to view.

While the items were on top of the case, Liburd grabbed the jewellery, valued at $11,203, ran out of the store and escaped on a pedal bike.

Three days later, he entered Solomon's jewellery store on Front Street and tried on a 14 carat gold bracelet valued at $1,400.

Liburd made no attempt to pay for the bracelet and ran out of the store and again got away on a pedal bike.

Liburd was later arrested and pleaded guilty to both charges of theft.

He told Police he intended to pawn off the jewellery in order to finance a trip to Jamaica to help his family.

He claimed to have hidden the jewellery from Crisson's, but could not remember where, and lost the bracelet from Solomon's during his escape attempt. The jewellery is still unrecovered.

Before sentencing, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner reminded Liburd that he had committed these offences while released on bail and he needed to take into consideration several other offences.

These included incurring a debt of $80 for hairstyling on February 11, stealing $43 from Four Star Pizza on February 26, not paying a taxi fare on March 16 and a separate incident of theft on March 4.

Liburd instructed Duty counsel Kim Wilson to outline several mitigating factors.

These were that he was in serious financial trouble, was a skilled mechanic -- but could not find any work -- and that he supported three children.

They were on his mind when he stole as he needed to feed them and pay rent and he said he was sorry for his inappropriate behaviour.

Before sentencing, Mr. Warner said, "You don't go around and snatch jewellery. That is totally unacceptable. You didn't go to the MarketPlace and steal some bags of potatoes and I do not believe you were acting in the interests of your family.'' Mr. Warner told Liburd he was lucky not to be tried in the Supreme Court due to the serious nature of his crimes and the value of the property stolen.

Liburd was then sentenced to twelve months for the first count of theft, and twelve months for the second count. Both sentences will run concurrently.