A 41-year-old St. Brendan?s patient pleaded guilty in Magistrates? court yesterday to various charges of breaking and entering and stealing a box full of sneakers.

Maurice Arthur Burrows, of no fixed address, was remanded in custody pending a social inquiry report to establish his mental condition before sentencing. Crown counsel Paula Tyndale told the court that on the afternoon of April 30, a Paget woman was home alone when she heard a noise coming from one of the rooms.

When she went to investigate she found Burrows standing outside a window holding the screen which he had removed. Ms Tyndale said the woman asked him what he was doing there and he replied that he was seeing if anyone was home.

Burrows then dropped the screen and made his way towards the door. Ms Tyndale told the court that he woman managed to latch the door before he could make his way inside and he ran away. However Burrows then made his way to another home in the same area where a woman was home with her children.

She had just filled a bucket with water in the kitchen and after leaving the room realised she?d forgotten something and returned. When she entered the kitchen Burrows was standing in the room holding a bag belonging to the woman?s daughter.

She asked him for the bag and he returned it before leaving the house.

Burrows then made his way to a neighbours? house. Ms Tyndale said an owner went to investigate and found Burrows walking down the stairs as if to leave.

The Police were called and they found Burrows walking along Harbour Road carrying a large cardboard box full of sneakers. Ms Tyndale said Police discovered that Burrows had stolen the box of sneakers, valued at $780 from the Sports Source? warehouse in Paget.

As Ms Tyndale read the charge sheet, Burrows sat with his forehead resting against the front of the dock and ever so often peered over it at Acting Senior Magistrate Tyrone Chin.

Burrows has previous convictions dating back to 1980 and Mr. Chin asked Burrows how the court could help him, help himself and help the community.

?I need a permanent room at St. Brendan?s Hospital so I can stay there all the time. I only get to stay there at night,? he said.

Mr. Chin replied that St. Brendan?s was not a hotel.

?You should be charging me with trespassing because I never actually broke into anyone?s house. The door was open,? Burrows replied.

Ms Tyndale requested a social inquiry report before sentencing Burrows. She added that he had a history of mental illness and was currently on medication.

However, since Burrows has no permanent address, Mr. Chin requested Burrows be remanded in custody until June 16 when the social inquiry report would be complete and he could be sentenced.