maybe only God could help him.

Jailing burglar Wendell Wayne Ible for four years, Puisne Judge the Hon. Mr Justice Ward told him: "It may not be fashionable, but your problem may be solved by turning to religion.

"If you can't help yourself you reach the stage where only God can help you.'' Assistant Crown counsel Mr. Mark Pettingill, prosecuting, said Ible climbed through a window at Mrs. Hella Wooller's home on East Shore Lane, Sandys on the night of February 8-9 and stole German currency and costume jewellery together worth more than $2,000.

Ible was spotted on Court Street around 2 a.m. the next day by Police who realised he was breaking a court curfew order. He had some of his haul with him, and he showed officers the rest hidden at the old Sugar Cane Hotel.

Ible, an unemployed landscape gardener of East Shore Road, admitted the burglary. He had a history of similar offences, the court heard.

Mrs. Charles-Etta Simmons, defending, said part of Ible's problem was the way he had been handled by the legal system. "Since 12 years old he has seen nothing but imprisonment, imprisonment, imprisonment,'' she said.

"He has lapses in his behaviour, usually brought on by alcohol. He needs closer supervision and imprisonment hasn't been helping him.'' She wondered if the probation service had done all it could for him.

Ible was a very talented singer and in the seven months since his last jail term had started a relationship which could lead to marriage.

Most of his offences had been committed in the Somerset area -mainly in walking distance of his home, she added. "There was a sober part of him saying: `I can't believe I'm doing this. It's not me'.'' Mrs. Simmons read out a letter from Ible to the court. "Jail can't help me, it's merely a holding place,'' it said. "I need and want rehabilitation.

Please give me one last chance.'' The system had failed him and he was a voice crying in the wilderness, Mrs.

Simmons added.

But Mr. Ward told her: "Mr. Ible has to do something to help himself. I don't think society can help him any more. The close supervision he requires can only be found in prison.'' Passing a four year sentence, he recommended Ible receive psychological counselling for his alcohol problem.