he admitted stealing them from the Leopards Club.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons gave Sidney Pitt, 45, a concurrent nine months prison sentence on each count of breaking and entering and carrying tools for that purpose.

While Pitt begged her not to jail him, Ms Simmons said yesterday his lengthy history of convictions gave her no other choice.

"I would be remiss in my duty if I didn't sentence you,'' she said.

"The citizens of this country have the right to feel secure. There was a time when we could always leave our doors unlocked.

"Because of your record and because of the escalation of these types of crimes in Bermuda, I must send you to jail.'' Police prosecutor Sgt. Kenrick James said Police were called to the Hamilton club on October 24 after Pitt broke into the premises.

The accused climbed onto the roof but then jumped off and ran away when Police officers gave chase. He was later caught wearing white socks on his hands and holding a blue shoulder bag which contained the stolen items, a car jack, hammer, screwdriver and flashlight.

Duty Counsel Mr. Peter Farge told the court Pitt was virtually homeless when he committed the offence and took the nuts because he was hungry.

"I am pleading with you not to send me back to prison,'' Pitt said. "I have been there 14 years and I have been rejected from lots of jobs because of my record.'' He admitted he was an alcoholic.

But after considering Pitt's criminal record which dated back almost 30 years, Ms Simmons passed a jail sentence and recommended a substance abuse programme.

"If you look at this positively this could be a new start for you,'' she told Pitt.