A drunken burglar, caught on Monday inside the house he broke into, did not try to escape, but instead offered to share the whisky with the policemen.

A sober Daniel Ali, 41, appeared in the San Fernando First Magistrate's Court yesterday, charged with house-breaking and larceny.

He told Deputy Chief Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan he was unaware of his actions since he was drunk.

Ali was sentenced to two years in jail with hard labour.

"We can't have people breaking into the premises of others... (You) asked if they wanted a drink? How much bolder could you get?" asked Rambachan.

The court was told that around 10 a.m. on Monday, victim Lincoln Jaimungal secured his Cross Crossing, San Fernando, home and returned later to see Ali inside.

Constable Bruce Lee and other officers responded and found Ali lying in a room with an empty bottle of whiskey.

Police prosecutor Ramdath Phillip said Lee spoke to Ali and he answered in slurred speech, saying, "Take a drink nah. It have plenty more where this came from."

He was then handcuffed and taken to jail.

Jaimungal checked his liquor cabinet and found it was his $225 bottle of whisky that Ali had consumed.

Jaimungal's $1,000 car battery charger was also missing and later found outside a window.

The empty bottle of whisky and the charger were brought to court.

Ali, a mason, pleaded guilty to the offence, but several times denied parts of the police information.

But when Rambachan told him a not-guilty plea will be entered, Ali insisted he committed the offences.

He was unable to give an explanation for his actions.

"I was drinking, I didn't know what I do. I sorry for my actions... I accept my wrongs," Ali said.

He admitted he knew Jaimungal, as they lived in the same area.

Phillip told the court Ali had a previous conviction for a similar crime, and was also charged in the past with possession of marijuana.

Ali, a father of two, was sentenced to prison. —Nikita Braxton-Benjamin