A self-confessed drug addict was yesterday jailed for two years after he pleaded guilty to stealing thousands of dollars worth of liquor from three Island businesses.

Crown Counsel Sandra Bacchus said Abdullah Hussein Ali Virgil, 31, of Dundonald Street, Hamilton, was arrested in November of last year in connection with a number of thefts from The Cake Shop in Pembroke.

Virgil, who is unemployed and has a 13-year-old daughter, lived with a worker from the shop at the time and stole his keys.

He broke into the shop and stole a case of chicken, a case of crab meat, two cases of rum, a case of vodka, one case of whisky and nine cases of beer, together worth $1,039.

Before Police arrested him he had already sold most of the goods.

Virgil also asked the Court to take into consideration three similar thefts from The Cake Shop.

At the time of his arrest, Virgil was on bail for stealing from two other businesses.

Yesterday he admitted stealing 15 cheques belonging to Funseekers Bowling Club from a committee member, again who he lived with, in March of last year.

He cashed three of the cheques, to the value of $675. He again asked for 16 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

And in October last year, Virgil broke into the Spring Garden Restaurant & Bar in Hamilton on three different occasions and stole alcohol to the value of $2,400.

Defence Counsel Renee Foggo said she appreciated Virgil would have to be jailed but asked for leniency.

She said: "He realises he has done wrong and has to pay for his actions. I would like to see him given a chance, but at the same time punished for his crimes.

"The sentence should not be so harsh so it diminishes any hope that Mr.

Virgil has.'' Virgil asked Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller to take into account his admission of guilt and apology.

He said his mother had left the Island some time ago but was now back and he hoped to turn over a new leaf and get back on the right side of the law again.

Virgil said: "I would like to apologise to all the people who have been hurt.

I will do my best to pay them back.

"I feel that my mother was a strong part of my life. She left the Island eight years ago and came back recently.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller sentenced Virgil, who has been in trouble with the law since being a juvenile, to nine months for the thefts from The Cake Shop, 24 months for the thefts of the bowling club cheques and 18 months for the burglaries at the restaurants.

All the sentences will run concurrently.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said drugs had obviously played a role in the offences and ordered that Virgil undergo a rehabilitation course while in prison.

She added: "When you think of the significant role your mother has played, you should think about your daughter.

"You should be playing a significant role in her life.