Well-known Hamilton character Eugene (Jinx) Darrell is due to appear for sentencing in the Supreme Court after being caught stealing from the offices of a Hamilton insurance company.

Staff heard Darrell walking through the reception area and rooting through drawers at Allegro Insurance and Risk Management, Burnaby Street.

When a worker asked what he was doing in the building at 8.40 p.m., the defendant said he was looking for someone. He was then ordered to leave.

Two days later, the 48-year-old homeless man was spotted on a staircase in the same office block as the alarm sounded. Darrell left through the front door and $7 was later reported missing from a staff desk drawer.

On both occasions, magistrates were told, it was not clear how Darrell had got into the building. Darrell, who magistrates heard has numerous convictions of a similar nature, was remanded in custody on Monday.

On Tuesday, Senior Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo, noting the defendants previous ?petty? convictions for breaking and entering and begging, said Darrell had never been sent to Supreme Court before.

But he said he felt that greater punishment was required than he had power to hand out, and committed the defendant to the higher court for the first time on a date to be confirmed.

He also said an 18-month probation order, which the defendant breached, would re-start after his future jail term was completed. Darrell said he could not find the probation building.

The defendant, of no fixed address, admitted breaking and entering on January 31 with the intention of stealing. He also admitted breaking and entering and stealing $7 on February 2.