A 24-year-old St. George's man was jailed for six years yesterday after he admitted to stealing more than $64,000 in cash and merchandise during a two-month crime spree last year.

A total of 79 theft-related charges were levelled against Sean Smith, who pleaded guilty to burglarising numerous homes and businesses with another man in May and June of 1994.

Smith was sentenced by Chief Justice the Hon. Mr. Justice Ward on 19 primary counts that included breaking and entering, destroying property and theft.

Justice Ward took into account the other 60 charges before making his ruling.

The sentence, which consisted of prison terms of six months to six years, is to be served concurrently.

Among the primary counts that Smith admitted to were the theft of more than $1,700 in cash and jewellery from a home in Paget, the torching of a safe at a Warwick store and the taking of $4,400 in merchandise and a car from a home in Smith's Parish.

Smith also pleaded guilty to breaking into the Perfume Factory on June 7, the Bermuda Railway Museum on June 15 and the office of St. John's AME Church on June 27.

Court heard that he stole more than $3,300 in cash and jewellery from the museum and $2,060 and a Mitsubishi station wagon from the church.

Smith's lawyer, Mr. Marc Telemaque, urged the judge before the sentencing to take into account that Smith was "under the influence of a drug habit'' during the months that he committed his crimes.

"He was previously sent to prison and received no rehabilitation or counselling for it,'' Mr. Telemaque said. "He's willing to go into any treatment programme that is available to him.'' The Chief Justice ultimately rejected Smith's drug defence, though he did order him to undergo a drug rehabilitation programme in prison.

The judge also ruled that the time Smith has already spent in jail be deducted from the sentence.

Smith had been in prison since July 5, 1994.