A self-confessed drug addict who went on a $45,000 stealing spree began serving a four-year prison term on Friday.

Toriano Dunkley, 25, of Sugar Apple Lane, Pembroke pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to five counts of burglary, attempted burglary and house breaking between November last year and January 26.

Crown counsel Jo-dina Pearman said Dunkley stole money and jewellery worth more than $10,662 from the first Pembroke home he broke into sometime between November 30 and December 1, 1995.

On December 5, a Pembroke man realised that his money pouch was missing, Ms Pearman said. The pouch contained $7,000 in cash and six paycheques.

Sometime between December 15 and 16 Dunkley broke into a Pembroke home via a bedroom window and stole $1,400.

Ms Pearman said Dunkley broke into a fourth Pembroke home, via a sliding door, on December 19 while the residents were asleep.

Dunkley took two knapsacks containing $215 worth of goods.

On December 23, she said, an elderly Pembroke lady heard her shutters rattling and upon opening her front door saw a man at her window.

The man, who was wearing a jacket, fled from the scene.

Ms Pearman said sometime between January 5 and 6 of this year a Pembroke woman returned home to find someone had broke into her home and stole jewellery and cash totaling $22,000.

And on January 26 a Pembroke family returned home to discover that someone had broken into their home via a front door and stole some $3,950 worth of jewellery.

Ms Pearman told the court that some of the jewellery from the January 26 theft was found on Dunkley when he was arrested by Police at a Devonshire residence the next day.

She said Dunkley told Police he committed the crimes to support a $200-a-day cocaine, marijuana and heroin habit.

Dunkley took Police to Admiralty Park where he had hidden the stolen items, but only the $3,350 worth of goods were recovered.

Ms Pearman asked Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux to consider Dunkley's lengthy criminal record which dated back to 1988.

Dunkley's convictions included a 1991 nine-month prison sentence for breaking and entering, a 1990 nine-month suspended sentence for stealing a motorcycle and a 1988 community service sentence for receiving a stolen bike.

She suggested a prison sentence of five to seven years.

But Dunkley's lawyer Peter Farge told the court his client was "glad'' Police caught him so he could get help for his drug addiction.

And Dwayne Smith, director of the Missionary Evangelistic Education and Training Centre in Nashville, Tennessee, testified that Dunkley had been accepted into their drug rehabilitation programme.

Dunkley told Mr. Meerabux that if he was to receive a long prison sentence at Westgate Correctional Facility, "I'll just come back out and do the same thing''.

"There's nothing for me at Westgate,'' he stressed. "I have an opportunity with this programme. I realise I need help.'' But Mr. Meerabux told Dunkley: "Once the occupant's privacy has been invaded, the home is never the same. This cycle of unsocial conduct is unacceptable and must be broken.'' He therefore sentenced Dunkley to four years in prison for the burglary offences, three years for the attempted burglary, and four years for the house breaking. The sentences are to run concurrently.