PRINCIPAL Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle yesterday sentenced Leroy Sammy to 18 months imprisonment for break and enter and larceny.

The prisoner, of Lot 33 Public Road, Agricola, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Particulars of the offence said, between June 25 and 26, he broke into Essentials Shopping Centre at Camp and Regent Streets, Georgetown, from where he stole 27 pairs of jeans and four pairs of shoes, worth a total of $84,194.

Police Corporal Sherwin Matthews, prosecuting, said the security guard on the premises discovered that the northern showcase window had been breached and merchandise was missing.

The Prosecutor said Sammy also gave a statement in which he admitted stealing the booty.

But Sammy denied giving Police the attestation and, when asked by the magistrate, replied that he wished a two years sentence.

The magistrate told Sammy that, if the case had reached the High Court, he could have been imprisoned for 14 years.

He claimed he was walking along Regent Street about 05:00 h when he saw the store window already broken and picked up three pairs of jeans which were on the ground.