relatives had his misfortune taken into account yesterday.

Clifton Leroy York, 48, pleaded guilty to stealing liquor from Lindo's market in Devonshire just prior to the Christmas holiday.

The self-employed Paget man hid two bottles of rum under his jacket before paying for a slab of cheese and leaving the store on December 11.

The man was seen putting the liquor, worth $45.80 under his jacket by the security cameras.

On December 12 York returned to the grocery store wearing a large jacket and took a bottle of vodka and a bottle of rum totalling $44.75.

The store manager saw the man in the liquor department and, recognising him from the day before, stopped him in the parking lot. Police were called The man was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station.

The court heard how York's father, mother, grandmother, and grandfather had all died in the past two years and that the man subsequently turned to alcohol.

It was also revealed that York was seeking help at Alcoholics Anonymous in a bid to rehabilitate himself.

But, Mr. King said that a lax sentence would be a "powder puff'' punishment.

Because the man had not stolen more than $250 worth of goods, he could not be ordered to serve 6 months in prison.

Mr. King said: "I do not consider a custodial sentence warranted. I take the defendant's guilty plea into account, his addiction, and the value of the goods.'' Instead, York was ordered to pay $125 for each count.

Before the man was able to leave the court, however, it was revealed that the man failed to appear in court in April 1999 for speeding in December, 1998.

The man pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay $220.