A till-grabbing thief whose four-month crime spree netted him nearly $3,000 from local supermarkets was sent to prison for six years yesterday.

Antoine Jamaine Bean, 23, of Coral Acres Drive, robbed four supermarkets, a hotel, a car, a grocery and a liquor store during the spree.

Bean, a self-confessed drug addict, pleaded guilty to robbing the A-1 Supermarket, White and Sons, the Maxi Mart grocery store, Arnold's Supermarket, the Modern Mart in Paget, the Southampton Princess Hotel and Haywards Liquor store.

The offences occurred between March 31 and June 11, 1994.

Bean walked into the A-1 Supermarket in Paget around 8 p.m. on March 31 picked up a Carlsburg elephant beer and took it to the cashier. Instead of paying immediately, he shuffled his money, snatched $250 from the till and ran from the store.

Four days later on April 4, Bean lingered near the cash register at White and Sons supermarket around 7 p.m. He then reached into the till and grabbed a $50 note.

Bean who pretended to buy an elephant beer at the Maxi Mart grocery store on April 15, stole $1,200 after the cashier opened the till in order to make change.

On April 20, he seized three $20 notes from Arnold's Supermarket and a day later he stole $50 from Romo Swan's car.

Later that day (April 21) Bean took $950 from a till at the Paget Modern Mart but was caught by Frank Arnold after a long foot-chase. Arnold is the owner of the Arnold's Supermarket, a store he had robbed a day earlier.

After his release on bail from Magistrates' Court on June 11, Bean, armed with a knife, strolled into the Southampton Princess gift shop about 10 a.m., stood in line and bought some candy.

The cashier completed the transaction and closed the till, but Bean asked for change for the telephone. The cashier complied but kept the till shut with her hip.

Bean then produced the knife and held it to her face. The cashier screamed and jumped back. Bean reached in and stole $200. Before leaving, he threatened the cashier.

That night he went into Hayward's liquor store in Warwick and placed an elephant beer on the counter. The cashier anticipating payment, opened the till. At that moment, Bean asked for a package of cigarettes located on a wall behind the cashier's head.

When he turned, Bean began stealing money from the till. As the cashier realised what was happening and demanded an explanation, Bean placed a knife on the cashier's chest.

The commotion brought the store's owner from the rear of the premises but Bean threatened to kill him if he came near. He then left on a motorcycle with $150.

Puisne Judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade sentenced Bean to six years in prison for the armed robberies at the Southampton Princess and Haywards and five years for the other robberies. Both sentences will run concurrently.

Bean was represented by lawyer Mr. Delroy Duncan while Mr. Brian Calhoun appeared for the Crown.