A man who admitted stealing $2,089 over the course of a year has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Clarence Nicole Simmons, of Friswell Hill, Pembroke, pleaded guilty on Wednesday in Supreme Court to six counts of breaking and entering between January 29, 2005 and May 10, 2006.

The spate of break-ins happened within a year of Simmons' release from prison in July, 2004, for similar offences.

Both the Crown and defence recommended that Simmons receive treatment for his addiction and his lawyer Rick Woolridge, said Simmons had been very disappointed when told he would be disqualified from entering the drug court programme because of the number of offences he has committed.

Before his sentencing, Simmons said: "I asked myself if I was ready to go into an intense drug programme and be serious about it because, if I am not, then I should just do the time. And I realised I am ready.

"I stand here as a Christian man and I believe God is leading the way and I know that, if offered these services, I will do it with all of my heart. This chapter of my life has to be closed and the only one that can do it is me and I am going to."

Justice Norma Wade Millar said that due to the persistent nature of his crimes he would have to serve two years in prison and take part in the eight month drug programme there.

She also ordered him to take part in one of the Island's two intensive drug rehabilitation programmes, Camp Spirit or the Harbour Light programme. His time in a rehabilitation centre will be part of his two-year mandatory probation sentence, she said.