The Lusaka Magistrates’ Court has sentenced a 24-year-old man of Kanyama Township to six years imprisonment with hard labour for breaking into Deeper Life Church and stealing a Plasma TV, carpets, seven mattresses and other items.

In this matter, David Lombe was charged with two counts of breaking into a building and committing a felony therein.

Particulars of the offence in the first count were that on August 5 this year, in Lusaka, Lombe, with intent to commit a felony, broke and entered into Deeper Life Church and stole a plasma television, seven mattresses and two carpets, the property of the said church.

And in the second count, Lombe on August 11, 2019 in Lusaka, with intent to commit a felony, broke and entered into the same church and stole three curtains, a keyboard and a bicycle altogether valued at K10,859, the property of Deeper Life church.

He had admitted the charges.

The matter came up before chief resident magistrate Lameck Mwale, Wednesday, for facts and sentencing.

Facts before court were that during the night of August 5, 2019, Lombe climbed the perimeter wall of the Church.

There were two security personnel manning the premises at the time but they did not hear him when he gained entry.

Lombe entered the Church through the window and stole a television, carpets and mattresses and the security personnel only realised the following morning that the church had been broken into.

And during the night of August 10, 2019, Lombe went to the same church and gained entry through the same window and stole three curtains, a keyboard and a bicycle.

But as he was jumping out through the perimeter wall, he was seen by a passerby who later apprehended him.

Lombe was taken to Kabwata Police Station where a detective Habeenzu took up the matter and instituted investigations.

After interrogation, Lombe led the police to Misisi compound where he sold the mattresses at K50 each, but they could not be recovered as the person who bought them also sold to other people.

Magistrate Mwale sentenced Lombe to 36 months imprisonment in each count, which sentences would run consecutively after expressing dismay at his action.

He said the convict was entitled to leniency but added that the offence was rampant especially that it was committed at a place of worship.

Magistrate Mwale said the place of worship must be respected.