A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja, on Thursday, sentenced Moses Yakpe to seven months imprisonment for stealing Y12 iron rod.
Yakpe, a resident at kpaduma II, Asokoro, Abuja, had pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal trespass and theft.
The convict after his guilty plea asked the court for leniency.
The Judge, Mr Aliyu Kagarko, gave the convict an option of N15, 000 fine.
Kagarko also advised Yakpe to be of good behaviour and shun a life of crime after serving his jail term.
He said that the punishment would have been stiffer if the convict had not saved the court the rigour of protracted prosecution.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Steven Osho told the court that the complainant Mr Philip Audu of Root Estate Guzape, Asokoro Abuja, reported the matter at Asokoro police station on Feb. 2.
Osho said that on the same date the convict criminally trespassed into the complainant’s site, and dishonestly stole 25 pieces of Y12 cut off iron rod value yet unknown.
The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the convict made a confessional statement that the stolen items were recovered from him.
Osho said the offence contravened Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.