Poetry flowed from a repeat offender who used prose to explain his predicament.

In Magistrates' Court Calvin Vaughn Anderson said: "It's a pity and a shame I got stuck in this game. It's a pity and a shame I am to blame. It's a pity and a shame I got hooked on cocaine.

"It's a pity and a shame the community and my family have felt the pain. It is a pity and a shame I spent my life chasing the white lady, cocaine.

"It's a pity and a shame so many of our black brothers and sisters are caught up in this game."

The poem went on several stanzas with the Beacon Hill Road man at one point asking: "How do I stop this game that cost me nothing but evil and pain?"

When the 43-year-old ended his poem Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo said: "So you're a poet are you."

Anderson pleaded guilty to five counts of burglary and explained that he had been clean for two years but relapsed recently, which prompted his illegal behaviour.

On April 6 he stole a socket set and electric saw, along with a six-pack of Heineken from an East Shore Road residence in Sandys. He also stole a circular saw, tool bag, two bottles of rum and Tide detergent from another locked area of the same East Shore residence.

Sometime between April 7 and April 13 Anderson broke into a Rockaway Drive shed and stole a motor cycle, helmet, and several power tools.

He returned to the East Shore residence that week too and stole a case of Heineken.

On April 18 he broke into Portofino's basement but was spotted by an employee and locked in the basement while Police were called. But when Police arrived he had managed to get free after escaping through Just Shirts, which is connected to the basement.

He was later arrested by Police.

Anderson has a string of previous convictions for breaking and entering including stealing $6,900 worth of jewellery from Crimson's in 2004.

Crown counsel Graveney Bannister said that because of a previous violent conviction in 1996 Anderson could not be considered for drug court.

Mr. Tokunbo ordered a social inquiry report and a drug assessment report to decide how best to deal with Anderson. He was remanded in custody until the reports are finished and will be sentenced on May 31.