Abuja — An Abuja magistrate court Wednesday sentenced a 22-year-old burglar to six months imprisonment or to pay N12,000 as fine for stealing and attempting to rape his victim, a married woman.

Samson Oricha of Dei-Dei village, Abuja, committed the offence on November 17, 2009 and was apprehended and handed over to the police.

Prosecutor Ahmed Mohammed told the court that on November 17, one Dr. Emmanuel Ogbile reported to the police that the accused broke into his wife's bedroom and attempted to rape her after stealing her valuables.

"The accused put fear into the woman and in the process collected her money and jewelleries valued at N120,000, after which he attempted to rape her, but she vehemently refused," the prosecutor added.

He said when the woman resisted, the accused in an attempt to rape her, used the cable of a radio set to tie her neck, adding that the action made the woman shout for help.

"During police investigation, the accused confessed to have earlier stolen N800,000, a laptop computer and two cell phones from the same apartment, adding that the accused committed offences punishable under Sections 353, 295 and 95 of the Penal Code Law.

When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

"The lady I recently impregnated will soon give birth to a child and life has been very difficult for me, hence I decided to steal to make ends meet," the accused stated.

Chief Magistrate David Ochimana convicted him for the offences.