Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

A St Catherine man who is said to be a habitual thief was sentenced to three years' hard labour for stealing seven bunches of bananas.

He is Lionel Johnson, 61-year-old unemployed of Breadfruit Gully, Bog Walk, St Catherine.

When the accused appeared in the Linstead Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, it was revealed he had five similar convictions.

Resident Magistrate Marcia Dunbar-Green then ordered that he be sent to prison.

The court heard that in March, the Bog Walk police were summoned to a farm. Upon their arrival, he was held with seven bunches of bananas.

He was subsequently charged with larceny.