A man has been jailed for two years for a series of trespasses and stealing at a community service building, homes and two schools.

Dunavin Nesbitt, 44, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty this week in Magistrates' Court to three charges of trespassing and stealing in 2005 and 2006.

The first trespassing and stealing case happened at 7.50 p.m. on April 13, 2005 at the Seventh Day Adventist Community Service building on Glebe Road, Pembroke where two plastic containers and man's coat were taken. The deacon noticed a window was broken and pushed open and a witness saw Nesbitt walking down the alley by the building with the plastic containers worth $110.

When she confronted him, he stuck up his middle finger and placed the items in the trees from where the witness was able to retrieve them. The second case occurred on July 26, 2005 at a residence in Smith's Parish where the door was left unlocked at 7 a.m. for construction workers to enter the building.

At 8 a.m. a man was seen jumping over the boundary wall and the construction workers noticed a Devault Drill worth $245 and a charger worth $90 missing. The third incident happened between April 6 and April 7, 2006 at a residence on Foot Path Lane, Pembroke where Nesbitt stole an exercise machine, electrical drill, a suitcase, an electrical plane, and 12 cans of soda totalling $742.

The complainant found the downstairs window broken open and called the Police who were able with Forensics to lift fingerprints, which matched Nesbitt's.

On September 27, 2006 Police arrested Nesbitt on a separate case and transported him to the Hamilton Police Station where the other charges were discovered. While in court, Nesbitt was also sentenced for entering, stealing and damaging the property of the Education Centre on Roberts Avenue, Devonshire on October 21, 2006 and the Prospect Primary School on Friendship Lane, Devonshire on November 21, 2006.

Crown Counsel Graveney Bannister said: "He has a long record of dishonesty and he even had an opportunity for rehabilitation, but did not take it.

"I am asking for three years in prison and maybe a probation period so he has time to go through a 12-step programme."

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo felt Mr. Bannister had too much hope saying to Nesbitt: "Just because you are homeless is not an excuse and this most certainly is not the first time. There are new provisions in the Criminal Code which have increased the penalties for burglary and trespassing. The game has changed and the stakes are up.

"Now I can give you five years in prison for these convictions."

In March 2006 the Criminal Code, which details the length of sentences allowed for certain convictions, was passed and raised the time a Magistrate can give for trespassing and stealing from a 12-month maximum to a five-year maximum or $10,000 fine.