A Warwick father was jailed yesterday after a break-in spree that netted $33,000 worth of loot in three months.

Adib Abdul-Jabbar was sentenced to three years despite making a lengthy speech on social problems which he said were partly to blame for his crimes.

The 42-year-old, also known as Stephen Cann, admitted 17 break-ins at Hamilton businesses and six offences of forgery and false pretences. He asked for 77 other crimes to be considered.

He confessed he used most of the money to support a cocaine habit. His lawyer, Ms Elizabeth Christopher, asked judge the Hon. Mrs. Justice Wade to consider putting Abdul-Jabbar on probation.

She stressed none of his break-ins were at private homes. He had "a very powerful motivation to change his life'', and people in the community willing to help him, including MP Mr. Nelson Bascome.

He had exhausted the education available to him at Casemates, and would not be able to practise Islam properly in jail.

But Crown counsel Mr. Melvin Douglas argued that probation would be unusual, and asked Mrs. Justice Wade for a jail sentence.

It would be against the public interest to let such defendants off with probation, he said.

"It would not guarantee that society would be protected from these attacks.'' Abdul-Jabbar, of Cobbs Hill Road, appeared close to tears as he read a prepared speech asking for mercy.

He told the judge his crime spree was a "plea for help'' and an attempt to get recognition for the problems of people released from prison.

"Are we going to continue segregating segments of our society because they have made mistakes or failed themselves, or are we going to extend a hand to them?'' He said he was ashamed and deserved discipline.

But he was more a product of environment than inherently criminal -- a victim of bad decisions, the attitude of society towards ex-prisoners and "the oppression of the black male'' by the establishment.

Abdul-Jabbar admitted "avoidance and denial'' on his part, but said he hoped to overcome his "mental slavery''.

Mrs. Justice Wade said she had to bear in mind the "multitude'' of his offences and previous court rulings on sentences.