A housebreaker who committed his crimes out of revenge was jailed for nine months and sentenced to two years probation.

Nico Smith, 23, of St. George?s, pleaded guilty in Magistrates? Court to breaking into Jeffrey Amaral?s home in St. George?s on February 14. Crown counsel Wayne Caines said Smith was caught inside Mr. Amaral?s home but escaped out of a back door.

A total of $64 worth of goods were stolen ? $4 in coins, three CDs valued at $10 each, and two DVDs valued at $15 each.

Smith was already on probation when he committed his most recent housebreaking. He was sentenced to nine months imprisonment and two years probation on June 17, 2003 for a breaking and entering offence.

Smith told Acting Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo it was ?payback?.

?I dealt with them the way I had to deal with them. It?s payback,? Smith said. ?I went up his house and paid him back for his children coming down my house and f***ing up my life.?

When hearing the profanity, Mr. Tokunbo silenced Smith and threatened charging him with contempt of court.