A man from De Aar who broke into a primary school last year has been sentenced to a decade behind bars.
Alwin Erasmus was sentenced to direct imprisonment in the local Magistrates Court on Monday.
Spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Mojalefa Senokoatsane says Erasmus broke into the Alpha Primary School in December last year and stole food and sporting items to the value of R20 000.
Erasmus was linked to the crime scene with his fingerprints and subsequently pleaded guilty.
Senokoatsane says the State wanted to send a strong message to the local community that these crimes would not be tolerated.
The NPA says Erasmus did not only steal from the school but from the community.
