sad'' case of an unemployed and homeless man who went on a two-day crime spree just 12 days after being released from prison.

Chief Justice Mr. Justice Ward granted the reprieve to allow defence counsel Victoria Pearman, who is representing 35-year-old Marcel Frederick Sheppard, to gather information on a drug rehabilitation programme she believes may help put an end his spiral of crime.

Sheppard pleaded guilty in September to stealing $80 from Burrows Lightbourne Ltd. and $160 from Lines Food and Liquor between September 19 and 20. In the commission of those crimes Sheppard also assaulted a clerk and the store manager of Lines Foods.

Crown counsel Leighton Rochester told Mr. Justice Ward the defendant, who was arrested the next day, used the money to buy crack cocaine.

The thefts he said, were the latest chapter in a 17-year-long record of conflict with the law, the last nine years involving numerous charges of stealing, forgery, and assaults.

"We are dealing with a very desperate situation here,'' Ms Pearman told the court.

On September 7 Sheppard was released to the streets with no job and no place to stay and, in addition to that said Ms Pearman, he had become a victim of institutionalisation.

"Prison,'' she told Mr. Justice Ward, "has become a dependency.'' Two Police witnesses testified for the defence, telling the court they had conversations with Sheppard during his brief interlude of freedom and he was anxiously looking for work.

A custodial sentence without rehabilitation would accomplish nothing, said Ms Pearman.

"Once he's released he'll just be back before the courts.'' With the Crown in accord Mr. Justice Ward adjourned the sentencing to January 13.

GUILTY TOFRAUD CTS Guilty to fraud Underpricing groceries "to help a friend'' landed a 27-year-old Pembroke mother in Magistrates' Court this week.

Berne Dillas, of Happy Valley Road, pleaded guilty to committing fraud by undervaluing goods worth $60.90 to $34.13.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said Dillas had been working as a cashier at Marshall's Grocery on Happy Valley Road when the offence occurred.

Sgt. Taylor said when Dillas went to work on September 30 a friend came into the store around 12.30 p.m. and picked up 20 items of foodstuff.

Dillas entered 11 of the items, worth $34.13, into the cash register, but packed all 20 items in the friend's bag.

A security camera recorded the transaction, and the shops owner called the Police.

Dillas admitted to the offence and asked that four other cases be taken into consideration.

When asked by acting Senior Magistrate Edward King why she had committed the offence, Dillas said she was "only trying to help out a friend''.

Mr. King released granted Dillas bail in the sum of $250 and ordered her to return to court on January 31 for sentencing.

He also ordered her to pay back Marshall's Grocery before returning to court.

MORE TIME OFF THE ROAD CTS More time off the road Driving while disqualified cost a 21-year-old St.

George's man $750 and another year off the road.

Shane Fox, of Light House Hill, this week admitted in Magistrates' Court to committing the offence on December 23.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette said Police stopped Fox on St.

David's Road at 10:25 p.m.

The officers then discovered that Fox was disqualified from driving until September 11, 1997.

Fox told the court that he had only been disqualified from driving motorcycles and was given permission to drive cars.

But after finding no evidence to support Fox' claim, acting Senior Magistrate Edward King banned him from all vehicles until September 11, 1998.