three theft charges in Magistrates' Court.

Jason Liburd, 29, changed his plea to guilty for the three charges when he appeared before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner after failing to appear for trial last month.

Liburd, of Glebe Road, last year stole a Honda motorcycle from the Stonington Beach Hotel parking lot, a pedal bike from Masters Limited and a bag of groceries from a long-time friend.

A Stonington Beach Hotel employee told Police she parked her cycle, valued at $3,000, in the parking lot in the morning and went to work.

When she returned that evening, she found the handlebars were not in the position she left them in and the lock was pushed in.

She went into the hotel to call Police and retuned to find that the bike was gone.

She saw Liburd pushing the bike toward the hotel's beach when Police arrived.

When asked what he was doing, he replied that he was just moving the bike.

Liburd said: "It was the first time I had seen one of these bikes and I was just trying it out.

"I shouldn't have got on the bike, but I just wanted to get a feel for it.'' Last August, Liburd walked out of Masters Limited with a pedal bike, valued at $269.95.

He told employees he wanted to take the bike for a test ride and left the store before they could respond.

"I didn't intend to steal the bike,'' Liburd said. "I had to meet someone and my watch went off. So I just went to meet them. I am willing to pay for the bike.'' The theft of the groceries, valued at $37.18, happened in October after Liburd and another man stopped on Parsons Road to speak with a long-time friend.

The third man began threatening Liburd's friend. Liburd snatched the bag of groceries and they escaped on a motorcycle.

Liburd told the court that the victim was a friend of his and he was willing to pay double the amount of the groceries to make up for things.

"The other guy took the groceries. I was just giving the guy a ride, but I am willing to pay double the amount of the groceries,'' he said.

Before sentencing, Liburd told Mr. Warner that he was already in prison and that he was sorry for what he had done.

He said: "I'm already in prison and it's hurting me everyday that I'm in there, and my family too.

"I'm sorry for what I done and hope that I don't get no more time.'' The court heard that Liburd was sentenced by the Supreme Court to six years for robbery and was due to be released in December.

He was given an additional 12 months for each of the three thefts, which will run concurrently, and received a stern warning before leaving court.

Mr. Warner said: "If you come back before me I'll put some consecutive sentences on your record or send you up to Supreme Court for sentencing.''