on Tuesday on the opening day of the trial of a man charged with 13 counts of theft and receiving stolen goods.

Arnett Dill, 43, is accused of going on a Christmas crime spree last December, breaking into the Trimingham's store in Somerset, the Bermuda Regiment offices, Club Med and two electrical goods stores.

He is also charged with five counts of receiving stolen property, two counts of causing wilful damage and one count of arson. On December 11 last year Dill allegedly set fire to Audio Visual Electronics in Somerset after breaking into the premises in a bid to cover his tracks. The blaze caused $100,000 worth of damage.

Last Friday Dill's co-defendant, 22-year-old John Jeffries, was given a three year prison term after pleading guilty to three of the break-ins. But Dill has maintained his innocence since his arrest in January and pleaded not guilty to all charges in court.

On Tuesday more than $17,000 worth of jewellery, stolen in the Trimingham's break-in, was presented before the jury by Crown counsel Patrick Doherty, along with a selection of electrical goods, including computer terminals and stereo systems. Towels stolen from Club Med and clothing also taken from the Trimingham's store were also displayed.

"This case is fairly straightforward, but I think it will take some time,'' prosecution counsel Patrick Doherty told the jury.

The court heard how, following a tip-off, detectives raided Dill's home on Leacraft Hill Road, Southampton,on January 5 and discovered the haul in the living room covered with several shower curtains.

They also found 12 compact discs, allegedly stolen in the Warwick Camp raid, in Dill's car.

Regiment adjutant Captain Eddie Lamb, called as the first of a host of prosecution witnesses, claimed the discs were removed from his office at the camp. He said he was able to identify three of the discs because they had distinctive markings on the covers.

The trial resumes today and is expected to last several days.