for stealing 24 methadone tablets from Addiction Services.

Eve, of Cedar Park, Devonshire, and a confessed heroin addict, pleaded guilty to stealing the tablets weighing 960 milligrams. They have a street value of $600.

Insp. Peter Duffy prosecuting, told the court that Eve visited Addiction Services around 11 a.m. to get his treatment.

After it was finished he talked to a counsellor who left him alone after their session was over.

While looking at some pamphlets he saw an unlocked filing cabinet that contained the methadone tablets.

He put them in a napkin and left.

He was arrested August 12 and admitted taking the methadone because it was too hard to pass up.

He maintained that he had no intention to sell it because he wanted it for his own use.

Duty Counsel Mr. Tyrone Chin told the court Eve is a "confessed heroin addict'' who has a 14-month old daughter.

"He lives with his mother and sister and his father is sick in hospital,'' Mr. Chin said.

"I beg the court's mercy and hope you see fit to give this man another chance.'' Insp. Duffy said Eve has previous convictions that included stealing $300 from the Spinning Wheel night club on January 18 and possessing an offensive weapon.

But Senior Magistrate the Wor Will Francis accepted the defence's argument that there is a difference between the theft of money and methadone.

"I think that there are different motivations between stealing money and methadone,'' Mr. Francis said.

"I will deal with all of this by way of a fine.'' Mr. Francis fined Eve $300 for stealing the methadone, $500 for possessing it and $200 for misusing a controlled drug.