An habitual thief was jailed for 18 months on Tuesday for carrying out a spate of break-ins in restaurants, bars and clubs.

More than $5,000 was stolen when Shawn Simmons ransacked gaming and cigarette machines in Hamilton.

At Magistrates' Court he admitted twice breaking into both Flanagan's Irish bar on Front Street and MR Onions Restaurant in Par-la-Ville Road.

He also pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the Beach Bar on Front Street where $2,000 was stolen, stealing $2,000 from the Mariners' Club in Richmond Road, Pembroke, and entering the Bermuda War Veterans Club on Dundonald Street with intent to steal.

Simmons, who was given a six-month suspended prison sentence for similar crimes last year, walked voluntarily into Hamilton Police Station on August 24 and was cautioned for breaking and entering.

Jailing him for 18 months yesterday, Senior Magistrate Will Francis said: "Putting it shortly but simply, it seems you've got quite a history of breaking an entering premises around town and stealing.

"I gave you six months suspended for three years last year and here you are less than a year later up to all this.'' When Mr. Francis asked Simmons if he had anything to say, he replied: "I done what I did and I'm taking my licks for it.'' When Mr. Francis asked him if he had any habit to support, Simmons replied: "Not that I'd talk about right now.'' Prosecutor Veronica Daley told the court Police were called to MR Onions at 3 a.m. on July 31 when an employee noticed a gaming machine, a cigarette machine and a filing cabinet had been opened. Some $685 was stolen and damage of $3,226 was caused.

Overnight on August 12, Simmons again broke into the restaurant through a roof window and took $200 from a cash box and a gaming machine.

On 19 August, Simmons forced his way into the Mariners' Club and stole $2,000 in cash.

Simmons, 27, a married father of two, from West Park Lane, Pembroke, smashed a window at the rear of the Bermuda War Veterans' Club at 11 p.m. on August 22, but did not manage to steal anything.

Mrs. Daley said Rick Olson, the manager of the Beach Club, was called to the bar at 6.15 a.m. on July 19 last year when the alarm was activated.

As he approached the door, he saw a man walking away down Front Street. When he shouted after him, he ran off.

He discovered three gaming machines had been broken open and $2,000 stolen.

Mrs. Daley said at 4.15 a.m. on October 16 last year, the alarm panel at Flanagans was ripped off and two gaming machines were broken into.

She said Simmons had admitted at Hamilton Police Station that he had hidden in the roof space of the toilet when the bar was open, then smashed his way through the tiles and cut the alarm.

He had used an identical method in a second break-in at the pub when $571 was stolen.

Mr. Francis sentenced Simmons to 12 months for the latest offences.

They are to run consecutively with the six-month suspended prison sentence he received last year, making the total sentence 18 months.