An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday sentenced a 26-year-old unemployed man,

The Magistrate, Mrs Y.O. Ekogbule, sentenced Ebi after pleading guilty to the charge of attempt to commit offences.

“You are sentenced to four hours of community service without an option of fine.

“The community service would be carried out within Oluwole Estate, Ogba, Lagos,’’ she ruled.

Ebi had at his arraignment on March 24 blamed his action on the handiwork of the Devil.

The accused, however, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy.

When the case came up on Tuesday for facts and sentence, the accused still admitted guilt.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 23 at Oluwole Estate, Ogba.

He said the accused went to a mechanic workshop at Oluwole Estate at about 3.00 a.m. with the intent to steal.

“The accused attempted to vandalise a vehicle parked inside the mechanic workshop in order to steal.’’

He said the accused was, however, caught by a guard at the workshop, who was recently employed following reported cases of vandalism and stealing of vehicle parts in the estate.

The offence contravened Section 21 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.