A drug addict who stole a 42 ins Panasonic television from Jardine House on Reid Street in Hamilton has been sentenced to three years prison.

Charles Ebbin, 52, of no fixed abode, admitted to the offence between September 24 and 25 when he appeared in Magistrates' Court. He also admitted to smashing the glass door of the neighbouring Armoury Building, but said he didn't enter the premises.

The court heard Ebbin was seen walking through Hamilton carrying a flat screen television. He was arrested on suspicion of theft, but told Police the television was garbage. He said: "I didn't steal it I got it in the car park and my friend can fix it. It's trash."

Ebbin was taken to Hamilton Police Station where he was interviewed and officers seized the TV pending further inquiries.

At a later date, an employee of Jardine House reported the same television, valued at $1,827.50 stolen. When Ebbin was arrested on The Glebe Road, in Pembroke, he admitted to the offence and told officers he did it to get cash for his drug habit.

Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess said Ebbin had a long list of similar offences and had just been released from Westgate on August 10 after serving five-years in jail. Duty counsel Graveney Bannister said in Ebbin's defence: "He is a cocaine addict and when he is on the drug he becomes very prolific. He was supposed to get treatment in prison for the addiction but I am not sure if he got it."

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner sentenced Ebbin to three years in prison for both the theft and attempted theft, to be served concurrently. Mr. Warner also ordered Ebbin to take part in 24 months probation and undergo recommended drug treatment programmes.