An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old man, Ayodele Joseph, to 18 months imprisonment for house breaking and stealing pepper soup meat and palm wine worth N2,600.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olayinka Omole, however gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N15,000 on the two count charges.

Omole sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment or N5,000 fine for stealing and one year imprisonment or option of N10,000 for housebreaking.

The Prosecutor, Corporal Adebiyi Abiodun, had told the court that the convict broke into the house of Kemisola Ibitoye and stole pepper soup meat valued at N1,900.

Abiodun said other items stolen by the convict were palm wine valued at N700 and some black wood hot drink and Regal gin valued at N2,000.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 413(1) and 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

Joseph pleaded guilty and begged for mercy, saying, “I do not have parents, I will not indulge in such act again”.