WESTERN BUREAU

A deportee and self-professed cocaine addict who is a frequent visitor to the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court for office break-ins was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on Wednesday.

Morris Clarke, of no fixed address, was sentenced after entering a not-guilty plea to office break-in and larceny, a day after he was sentenced to two years and nine months for a similar charge.

Clarke, who was released from prison in March, was again arrested in June after he committed the two offences at the Imperial Optical Office in Montego Bay where he stole three Dell flat-screen computers, valued at US$3,000, and four Rayban eyeglasses.

More computers

He also went to the Montego Bay Inland Revenue Department (IRD) where he stole two computer monitors, a mouse, and keyboard valued at $60,000.

Clarke told the police that he was walking along the road in April "looking at the scenery" when he saw that the windows at the IRD were open. He said he went in and took the items and admitted to re-entering the building and removing other items - all of which he sold.

When he appeared before the court on July 31 to answer to the first charge, Clarke told the court that he stole things of value so he could earn money to feed his addiction.

In court on Wednesday, he told RM Winsome Henry that he would be "more than willing to participate in drug rehabilitation".

He drew much laughter in the courtroom as he told the RM: "Endless love goes out to you nevertheless, Your Majesty," after the sentence was handed down. The two sentences will run concurrently.