given a suspended prison sentence in Magistrates' Court.

Kenneth Steede, 40, of St. Anne's Road, Southampton admitted two charges of trespassing on the Southampton Princess Golf Course.

The court heard he had been sent a letter barring him from the course.

But Steede said that seeking out golf balls on golf courses and then selling them was the only way he could make a living.

"I'm not breaking into anyone's house or snatching anyone's purse,'' he pointed out. "I'm just trying to make an honest dollar.'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis suggested he "move onto another golf course''.

"We have more golf courses per square mile than anywhere else,'' he noted.

Prosecutor Sgt. Earl Kirby said management had seen Steede on the golf course twice since sending him the letter -- once on September 6 and again on October 19 when he was caught and Police found 112 golf balls in his possession.

Mr. Francis gave Steede a six month sentence on each count to run concurrently. But he suspended the term for 18 months.