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Cape Town - A man who tried to steal a duvet cover from an unlocked minibus hired by a soccer World Cup tourist, was on Monday jailed for 20 months.
Mcebisi Pikoko, 26, who had previous convictions for theft and housebreaking, appeared before magistrate Jahstree Steyn in the Cape Town World Cup Court.
Police arrested him inside the vehicle belonging to tourist Bridget Hook.
The defence attorney told the court that Pikoko was poverty-stricken and jobless, and that the incident happened on a cold night.
She said poverty bred crime.
Prosecutor Andelean Hess countered that poverty was no reason to resort to crime.
Steyn said everyone was responsible for his or her own choices, and that Pikoko's choice had been crime.
He said Pikoko was not a first-time offender, and that his previous convictions included theft and housebreaking.
His most recent previous conviction was for shoplifting, for which he got off with a R200 admission of guilt fine.
Steyn said the incident involving the duvet cover happened while Pikoko had a suspended jail sentence hanging over his head.
The fact that he was now back in court indicated that the suspended sentenced had not had the desired deterrent effect on him, Steyn said.
