Sekondi, Feb. 2, GNA - A Sekondi District Magistrate's Court on Monday sentenced George Mortagbe 21, a labourer to 24 months imprisonment in hard labour on his own plea for unlawful entry and stealing 150 dollars and 57 Ghana cedis cash and other items totalling 330 Ghana cedis.

Prosecuting, Police Inspector Gifty Arthur said at about 10.00 pm on October 25, last year, the complainant, Stephen Mills, a phone repairer resident at Effiakuma Night Market, returned home from work very tired and went to bed after taking his supper. She said the complainant left a Sony MP5 machine, a Nokia phone, a Motorola phone, 150 dollars and 57 Ghana Cedis cash on a table in his room before retiring to bed.

Police Inspector Arthur said the accused passed by Mills' room late in the night and seeing him fast asleep, slowly opened the door which was not properly locked and stole the items and cash. She said when the complainant woke up at about 4.00 am the following day, detected that somebody had broken into the room and stolen the items.

Police Inspector Arthur said the complainant made a report to the police and later, a friend of the accused who had offered to buy the MP5 for 40 Ghana cedis, brought it to the complainant for repairs. She said the complainant arrested the accused's friend and handed him over to the police and during investigations, accused was arrested and charged with the offence.