western bureau:

A self-professed cocaine addict, who broke into his brother's apartment and stole items, was remanded in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

Miguel Thompson, 33, of Union Street, MoBay, pleaded guilty to housebreaking and larceny before RM Winsome Henry.

He returns on April 12, but is to speak to a probation officer in regard to drug rehabilitation.

Allegations are that on March 15, Thompson's brother locked his apartment and went out. He returned later and discovered the dwelling was broken into, and several shirts and a $10,000 DVD player missing.

He subsequently learnt that it was his brother who took the items.

Thompson told the police that he took the DVD because his brother refused to give him money that his aunt had sent for both of them.

He told the RM he did not take the shirts, only the DVD player, and intended to return it as soon as his brother gave him the money.

Thompson said his drug addiction was one of the reasons his brother refused to give him money.