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A TAMALE Circuit Court presided over by Justice Senyo Amedahe on Monday sentenced a 21-year-old ex-convict to four years� imprisonment in hard labour on charges of unlawful entry and stealing at a private residence at Lamashegu, a suburb of Tamale in the Northern region. Issah Mohammed, unemployed, admitted to the offence in his caution statement, and on his first appearance in court, he was accordingly slapped with the jail term after the prosecution presented its case. The convict had tried to play a smart game on his pursuers when he dragged an African yellow snake out of a bag to scare them from arresting him but he was nabbed and hauled before the law. Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecution indicated that the suspect broke into a private residence at Lamashegu where he ransacked about four rooms and stole one DVD player, a satellite dish decoder, two mobile phones and a card reader portable CD player. He was however spotted jumping from the house after looting but some neighbours who saw him raised an alarm, leading to a hot chase. Issah Mohammed tried to outsmart them, employing various tactics but he was still pursued by more onlookers who vowed to arrest him. Realizing he was going to be captured, he sought refuge in a nearby mosque but that did not stop the residents from storming there. Prosecution disclosed that on seeing that he had lost the battle, Issa removed a snake from a bag he was holding to scare his pursuers but they defied all odds and rushed into the mosque where he was arrested. He was subsequently whisked backed to the scene of the crime amidst severe beatings. The police were later called to the scene. The bandit was subsequently handed over to the police, who processed him for court where he was sentenced yesterday morning. Sources revealed to DAILY GUIDE this was the third time the convict had broken into that particular house and attempted stealing property but luck eluded him as he was spotted and arrested. His supposed Juju snake has since been killed and disposed of. Daily Guide's investigation from Lamashegu revealed the incarcerated Issah Mohammed was a Junior High School (JHS) dropout who survived on stealing.