nine months at Westgate.

Thirty-eight-year-old Kevin T. Dillas yesterday pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court with possession of a motorcycle while knowing it was stolen.

Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told Senior Magistrate Will Francis that on January 10 a Suzuki motorcycle valued at $1,700 and owned by Four Star Pizza was reported stolen from the City Hall car park.

Later that day a Police mobile unit on routine patrol spotted the bike and gave chase, which ended with the cycle being crashed and totalled. The rider however escaped.

Following an investigation, Police arrested Dillas on January 19. Sgt. Taylor told the court Dillas had a long record for cycle thefts and possessing stolen bikes.

Dillas pleaded guilty to the charge but initially told Mr. Francis he borrowed the cycle from a friend and did not know it was stolen. He said he panicked and fled when Police tried to pull him over.

"Then you're pleading not guilty,'' responded Mr. Francis. "This will have to go to trial and you'll have to tell us who your friend is.'' Dillas quickly backtracked, telling Mr. Francis: "I just took the bike, I needed some `trans' and I knew it was stolen.'' "Looking at your record it looks like you need a lot of people's `trans','' Mr. Francis replied.

He sentenced Dillas to nine months in prison, with "trans'' provided.