An habitual shoplifter, who stole two bottles of body wash from a supermarket in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, last week, was sentenced to 12 months' hard labour after pleading guilty in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Peter Brown, a dreadlocked man from Manchester, was arrested and charged with simple larceny by the Santa Cruz police.

The court was told that on Monday, November 10, about 9 a.m., Brown went to Real Value Supermarket in the town where he stole the items, valued at $708, and hid them in his back pocket. He was caught by security officers and the police were called.

Five former charges

The accused, who had five previous convictions, was taken before the court and sentenced by Resident Magistrate Deon Meyler-Reid, who also applauded the police officer for their good work.