and related offences in separate stealing sprees last year, Supreme Court heard yesterday.

Neville James Woods, 24, of Sandys Parish, pleaded guilty to stealing from a visiting World Cup soccer referee last October and breaking into five homes in his neighbourhood last December.

And Stephen Cann, who now calls himself Adib Ibn Abdul-Jabbar, admitted 23 break-ins in and around Hamilton and 15 counts of forgery. He also asked that 77 other related offences be taken into account.

The Court heard the offences all occurred during a three-month period last autumn.

Crown counsel Mr. Mark Pettingill said Woods stole some four million Mexican pesos (about $1,600) from the referee's hotel room between last October 16 and 17. He gained entry through an unlocked sliding glass door.

Mr. Pettingill said Woods was arrested after he aroused the suspicion of a teller when he tried to change the cash into local currency.

In one of the housebreakings, Woods netted a leather jacket and $350 cash. But in the other four, the occupants had been home and scared him away before he could steal anything.

Mr. Pettingill, calling the crimes "brazen'', said Woods had a lengthy history of dishonesty and had been released from prison just one month before committing the first offence.

Woods, who was sent to Supreme Court for sentencing, told Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade he was sorry, but had been out of a job and addicted to cocaine.

Mrs. Justice Wade sentenced him to 18 months for robbing the soccer referee and three years for the five break-ins. She ordered the sentences to run concurrently.

Abdul-Jabbar, 42, stole about $33,000 during his September to November crime spree, said assistant Crown counsel Mr. Melvin Douglas.

He said the crimes seemed to be due to Abdul-Jabbar's addiction to cocaine and frustration at being out of a job.

Investigating officer Det. Con. Graham Ward agreed with Ms Elizabeth Christopher, representing Abdul Jabbar, that without her client's cooperation, very few of the crimes would have been solved.

And he agreed with Ms Christopher that Abdul-Jabbar, who is of no fixed abode and has four children ranging in age from 3-23, had not harmed anyone he stole from.

Mrs. Justice Wade ordered a social inquiry report and adjourned the case until later this month for sentencing. She remanded Abdul-Jabbar in custody until then.