A teenaged burglar was spared a prison sentence after Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said he thought he could turn his life around.

Malik Cann, 18, was homeless when he admitted 15 dishonesty charges a month ago — but he told Mr. Warner yesterday that he now lived with an uncle, with whom he had a good relationship.

Cann's offences included stealing $2,400 from the bank account of the Masjid Muhammed mosque in Hamilton and attempting to take a further $400 from its building fund chequing account.

Last month's hearing was told how Cann successfully cashed three out of five stolen cheques, but was caught red-handed by suspicious Bank of Butterfield staff as he tried to cash a fourth on October 2.

At that court appearance, Cann told Mr. Warner he had a problem with marijuana, he was mourning the death of his father, and his mother had walked out on him and his siblings.

Yesterday, when Mr. Warner asked Cann about his relationship with his uncle, the teenager told Magistrates' Court: "I can trust him, not just as an uncle but also as a friend I can go to about anything."

Mr. Warner said he had read a report into Cann's background and sentenced him to a three-year probation order.

"I wouldn't want you to feel in any way, shape or form that this court simply accepts the reasons and you simply walk away with a slap on your wrist," said Mr. Warner.

"However, I'm inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt and to deal with this in a way other than immediate custodial sentence.

"But this is dependent on your willingness to cooperate with them helping you, so the ball is in your court."

As part of the order, Cann, of Farm Lane, Hamilton Parish, must participate in any rehabilitation programme — drugs, social, educational or psychological — directed by court services.