A Devonshire man with a "strong streak of unsocial conduct'' yesterday vowed to appeal his four-year prison sentence for receiving stolen goods.

Stephen Wilfred Pitt, of Alexandria Road, was found guilty of two counts of receiving stolen property, including a hand saw, 73 cans of soda and more than a dozen bottles of wine belonging to the Portuguese Cultural Association sometime between April 18 and 20 last year.

During a lunch-time deliberation a seven-man, five-woman Supreme Court jury unanimously found Pitt guilty of receiving the goods, but not guilty of breaking into the Association and stealing the goods.

Police found Pitt on April 20, 1997, laying on top of a red cloth in a Court Street parking lot. Under the cloth was several cases of soda, wine and a saw.

Pitt had told Police that he was "just looking after them'' for a man named Alex, also known as Sonny Bell.

Mr. Bell testified on Monday that he had nothing to do with the goods and that Pitt asked him to take the "fall''.

Despite the guilty verdict, Pitt yesterday maintained his innocence.

"I was just told to watch it,'' he insisted. "I didn't know what was under the cover.'' However, Puisne Judge Vincent Meerabux pointed out that Pitt's pleas were not the only factor in his decision.

"In these types of cases the court has to look at your character,'' he said.

"The court cannot disregard your previous convictions.'' Pitt has several break and enter convictions, the most recent being a $350 fine in August of last year for breaking into Tools and Equipment on North Street.

Crown counsel Charlene Scott suggested Pitt receive a three-to-five year prison sentence due to his "history'' of crime. The maximum prison sentence for receiving stolen goods is seven years.

Noting the public's right to be protected against "these types of things'' Mr. Justice Meerabux ordered Pitt to spend four years in prison for receiving the wine and soda and three years in prison for receiving the saw. Both sentences will run concurrently.