A Mount Pearl man will serve a 30-day jail sentence for breaking into a home and getting in a fight while trying to retrieve a marijuana plant.

In 2009, Charles Joseph Squires, 21, and two other men, covered their faces and tried to break into a house on Wedgeport Road in the east end of St. John's to try to take back a marijuana plant.

A fight broke out, Squires's nose was broken and because people were home at the time, the break-in was considered a home invasion.

Squires is expected to serve his 30-day sentence on weekends,after that he will be on probation.

His lawyer, Jeff Brace, said Squires had been on strict conditions for 18 months, and not broken them, and said Squires was "a decent kid who made a bad decision."

Judge Gloria Harding agreed with Brace, saying it was "unfortunate that he got involved in this" and wished Squires well in getting on with his goals.

"By all reports, you have learned from this and won't be back before this court," said the judge.