girlfriend landed a Southampton man in prison.

Floyd Spence, 28, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court this week to stealing the stereo -- a prize in a church function -- from Pastor Mark Hall's rectory on Rose Hill, Southampton.

Acting Magistrate Justin Williams sentenced Spence -- last known to be living in a boat on Whale Bay Road -- to prison for eight months for the nighttime theft and activated a three-month suspended sentence for stealing.

The sentences are to be served concurrently with a nine-month prison sentence Spence is currently serving. His projected release date is October 9.

Crown counsel Leighton Rochester told Mr. Williams that Spence admitted breaking into the Rectory through an unlocked garage door and was discovered by a tenant.

The tenant alerted Pastor Hall who later searched the garage to find the stereo box missing from among other prizes.

Spence was later arrested and admitted the theft and told Police he sold the stereo for $200 to an unidentified man to buy two bracelets for his girlfriend and some food.

Yesterday, Spence told Mr. Williams: "I'm sorry that I took that extreme type of attitude. I was going through so much tribulations with my family. I'm learning how to deal with that type of situation.''