Hohoe, April 23, GNA - A 40-year-old trader at Hohoe, Ishmael Gavor, who was arrested sleeping with his girl friend on a stolen mattress and bedstead was on Thursday jailed 10 years by a Hohoe circuit court presided over by Mr Utter Paul Dery.

The accused described by the Police as an ex-convict was alleged to have been jailed for a similar offence in 1996.

Gavor pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry and stealing, but the court found him guilty of the offence.

Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector Samuel Gbedemah told the Court that Gavor stole the items, including a carpet, all valued at 750,000 cedis from the Saint Agatha's Commercial College at Hohoe under the cover of darkness.

The Prosecutor said Gavor was arrested while enjoying his sleep on the stolen bedstead and mattress with his girlfriend beside him. The court ordered that the items should be returned to the owners. At the same Court, a 26-year-old unemployed who broke into a tailoring shop and stole items valued at 9.8 million cedis was sentenced to six years in imprisonment in hard labour.

Kodjo Anani pleaded guilty with explanation.

He told the crowded Court that he stole the items for sale to enable him to get money to treat his sick wife.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Gbedemah said early last week, Anani broke into a shop at Hohoe and made away with items which included 49 assorted half-pieces of wax prints valued at 7.6 million cedis, 200 yards of polyester material valued at one million cedis, 15 yards of materials for school uniforms, five pairs of sandals and two ladies suitcases.

He said Anani, sold the items to a woman at Jasikan but was arrested upon a tip-off.

Mr Dery also ordered the Police to return the retrieved items to the owner.