A persistent burglar was caught in the act as he stole cash and a pair of sneakers from the home of one of his victims.

Shannon Dane Somersall, 39, took $15 worth of coins and a pair of Brazilia sneakers after breaking into the house of Dwight Aldon Furbert in Devonshire.

He pleaded guilty at Supreme Court on Tuesday to two counts of breaking and entering Mr. Furbert?s home.

Prosecutor Anthony Blackman said that after the first occasion ? when Somersall stole $100 ? Mr. Furbert asked a neighbour to keep a lookout on the property.

On May 17, 2005, she saw Somersall acting suspiciously and telephoned Mr. Furbert at work.

?When the complainant came home he spotted and recognised the defendant,? said Mr. Blackman.

?In the chase, the defendant dropped one of the sneakers.?

The court heard that Somersall, of Longridge Pass, Devonshire, had a long list of previous convictions and had been jailed before for burglary. In 2004, he was given a conditional discharge for trespassing at the home of his former girlfriend.

He told Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves that he had broken into Mr. Furbert?s home because the latter?s family was harassing his mother and sister.

?I just went in to hurt his pockets, basically,? he said. ?I apologise. I was living with my mum at this time and she and my sister were getting harassed by the Furberts.?

Mr. Justice Greaves remanded him in custody for a social inquiry report to be carried out.

The report will help to determine whether Somersall, who admitted to the judge that he used drugs, will be jailed again or made the subject of a drug treatment programme.