A 31-year-old recovering cocaine addict was given a second chance by a Supreme Court judge to live a life as a "better person''.

Instead of serving time at Westgate, Morris Michael Botelho was handed a nine-month suspended prison sentence by Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller on Friday.

Botelho, of Cherry Dale, Knapton Hill, Smith's, had pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to stealing $40,060.60 from the dealership sometime between November 25, 1996 and February 17, 1997.

He also admitted stealing seven Suzuki cycles, worth $17,900, between January 28 and February 13, 1997.

Yesterday, the court heard how Botelho managed to steal from his employer while he was working as a car salesman.

Crown Counsel Patrick Doherty said discrepancies in the Suzuki Centre's stock was discovered during a February 1997 inventory check.

Mr. Doherty said Botelho had taken advantage of relaxed accounting policies and controls to order motorcycles for which there were no sales invoices or corresponding deposits.

A total of 27 sales showed discrepancies, 20 transactions involved the misappropriation of money while seven motorcycles were traded for drugs.

Mr. Doherty said the total value of the items and funds stolen amounted to $57,953.40.

Botelho was arrested at the Bermuda International Airport on April 8, 1997 as he attempted to board a Delta flight to Atlanta.

He fully admitted to the thefts and assisted Police in recovering six of the seven stolen cycles. He also provided Police with "valuable'' information on other non-related matters.

In his address to the Court, Mr. Doherty pointed out that the Courts usually gave defendants discounts for providing evidence to Police.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller also heard that Botelho has made full restitution to his former employer and that he was undergoing counselling for his addiction to cocaine.

"He should be given credit for the guilty plea, his cooperation with Police and the steps he has taken to deal with his addiction,'' Mr. Doherty said.

"But on the other side of the coin, you have to deal with the fact that Mr.

Botelho abused the employee, employer trust.'' He recommended that Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller hand down a prison sentence, but pointed out it could be one that was suspended.

Botelho's lawyer Mark Pettingill thanked Mr. Doherty for his "fairness'' in his address to the Court and insisted that Botelho's case was an "exceptional'' one.

He said his client had embarked on a new career in the hospitality industry where he had received a promotion and been nominated for an award by the Visitor Industry Partnership.

And he read a letter in which Botelho's boss declared that he was a changed man and had a great career in front of him.

"His turn-around represents the goal that society has for addicts,'' Mr.

Pettingill said. "He is no longer a threat to society.

"What useful purpose could be served by making him serve time,'' he added.

Prior to Mrs. Justice Wade handing down her sentence, Botelho apologised to his former employers and his family for his actions.

"I've gone on to make a better person of myself,'' he added. "I just ask for a second chance.'' Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said she took into account the mitigating factors, the fact that a trust had been broken and the cooperation with the Police in considering Botelho's sentence.

"It would have been two years, but the help to the Police brought it down to nine months,'' she said. "But I have been persuaded to suspend it for two years.''