to two break-ins.

Melvin Dyer, 30, of no fixed address, got away with more than $2,000 worth of jewellery and cash after breaking into the Belmont Hotel and his aunt's house on Lusher Hill, Warwick. The break-ins occurred on November 5 and 28 respectively.

Prosecutor Veronica Gordon explained to Magistrates' Court how Dyer got into the hotel through an unsecured window, before smashing a cabinet with a hammer and stealing bank bags containing $1,138 cash.

Three weeks later Dyer broke into his aunt's house, this time through an open glass sliding door, and stole a watch and ring worth $940.

Defending, Kim Wilson said that her client was addicted to cocaine and had never received treatment for his habit, although he was willing to come off the drug.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis sentenced Dyer to nine months imprisonment for the two break-ins. A consecutive term of three months was added after it was realised that Dyer had been given a three month suspended sentence last year for stealing $3,000.

"I am sure you realise there will have to be a custodial sentence,'' Mr.

Francis told Dyer.

"But if you are serious about coming off drugs there are things that can be done for you at Westgate or wherever the prison department wants to put you.

"But you have to be serious about it -- they can take you to the water but they can't make you drink.'' BIKE DEALER TAKEN OFF THE ROAD CTS Bike dealer taken off the road A bike dealer was banned from driving for 12 months after failing to provide a breath sample when stopped by Police.

Elliot Trott, 56, who runs the Yamaha Cycles showroom on Trott Road, Hamilton, was stopped by Police after they witnessed him driving dangerously on Crow Lane in the early hours of November 28.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday prosecutor Veronica Gordon explained how a mobile patrol spotted Trott, driving a silver Nissan car, heading east along Spurling Hill.

He failed to give way at the Crow Lane junction and narrowly missed colliding with a taxi.

When Police finally managed to get Trott to pull over they noticed that his speech was slurred and his eyes were glazed. He admitted that he had had a few glasses of wine but was arrested when he refused to give a breath test.

Trott, from Salt Kettle Lane, Paget, told Senior Magistrate Will Francis: "I apologise for my behaviour -- I should have taken a taxi.'' He was banned from all vehicles for 12 months and also fined $450.

DRUG PURCHASE RESULTS IN FINE CTS Drug purchase results in fine An unemployed Southampton man was fined $250 after admitting buying a twist of diamorphine in a town centre street.

Willard Lowe, 41, of Whaling Hill, was spotted by Police making what looked like a drugs transaction on the junction of Court Street and Elliot Street, Hamilton, on the evening of August 15.

He was stopped and searched by the officers who discovered a white envelope in his back pocket which contained 0.06 grams of diamorphine.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday Lowe, who is unemployed, pleaded guilty to the offence but declined to make any further comment.