A serial con artist who tried to rob two banks, an insurance company and a chemist' by impersonating a Police officer yesterday revealed he is channeling his "imagination" into writing a novel.

Maxwell Sinclair Roberts held up a brown paper package containing his transcripts and told Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo: "I decided to take my imagination and use it for good things. I always wanted to write a book but I actually did it. I did something good and I want to get it published."

Mr. Tokunbo however, appeared unimpressed. "Is it crime fiction?," he asked.

Roberts, 41, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in Plea Court to four counts of impersonating a Police officer on May 9.

The court heard he donned a black wig and glasses, and, pretending to be a 'Detective Smalls' from the Fraud Unit, attempted to gain entry to the bank vaults of Bermuda Commercial Bank and Bank of Bermuda as part of a "counterfeit currency investigation".

When that proved unsuccessful, he targeted BF&M Insurance and a chemist in Pembroke, threatening to arrest any employee who got in his way.

The attempted crime spree all took place within hours of him being released from Westgate prison for trying to swindle insurance/reinsurance company ACE out of millions, according to Police.

Pretending to be an ACE director, Roberts claimed an investigation was underway into the company's CEO, but that investigator 'Kenneth Stevens' needed a $20 million cheque as payment to start the probe.

Staff however, alerted the Fraud Unit, who produced a fake cheque and staked out the company lobby, catching Roberts red-handed. In November 2006 he was jailed for five years.

In another twist to Roberts's criminal record, the ACE con took place a day after he was released from jail - this time for a fraud against Opposition Senator Michael Dunkley. Roberts impersonated the politician - despite being black himself - to loot Mr. Dunkley's bank account of $80,000, in November 2003.

Yesterday, Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke presented Roberts' latest scam to Magistrates Court. Ms Clarke, prosecuting, said Roberts first approached the receptionist of Bermuda Commercial Bank in Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, at 11.55 a.m. on May 9.

"At the time, he was wearing a black wig and was carrying a number of documents. He introduced himself as Detective Smalls from the Fraud Unit and stated that he needed a warrant signed," said Ms Clarke.

Roberts presented CFO Gregory Reid with a fake search warrant. "He stated that one of the bank's employees had been arrested and was in Police custody," said Ms Clarke.

"He stated that he needed access to the bank's vault and that he would take any counterfeit currency or bearer bonds."

But Mr. Reid became suspicious and asked Roberts for ID - prompting the defendant to threaten to arrest him "for impeding a Police investigation". Roberts then left the building, saying he was going to fetch his ID.

Half-an-hour later, he played out the same con at the Bank of Bermuda in Bermudiana Road.

Ms Clarke said: "He was escorted to the vault area, where during a conversation, one of the bank's security officers asked him for identification. Having threatened the officer with arrest, Roberts left the bank stating that he needed to get the identification from his car."

Roberts then moved on to BF&M in Pitts Bay Road. At 12.35 p.m. he showed an executive assistant a fake search warrant.

"He stated that he needed to arrest employees of BF&M and when he was asked for identification, he threatened to arrest the executive secretary," said Ms Clarke.

Roberts then left, but 20 minutes later resumed his con at the Woodbourne Chemist in Pembroke - still wearing his wig.

"Again he stated that he needed to inspect the money in the company safe due to problems arising from an ongoing counterfeit currency investigation," said Ms Clarke.

Threatening the employee for "not cooperating", Roberts then made his escape.

All four businesses however, contacted the Police. After identifying Roberts on the companies' CCTV footage, officers arrested the defendant the following day in Crow Lane. He was then picked out in an identification procedure on May 12.

Defence lawyer Elizabeth Christopher yesterday told the court: "The defendant has indicated to me that he is writing a 350-page book."

Roberts said: "It is fiction - a very good one. I've got the book right here if you want to read it.

"Everything happens for a reason, and had I not gone back to prison I would not have written this book.

"I am really sorry for what I did. I am asking you for a chance. I am tired of doing evil and am too old for prison."

But Mr. Tokunbo said: "Given your record, the only thing you have in your favour is your guilty plea. The appropriate sentence in my opinion is nine months in prison."

He has previously described Roberts as "an actor with a massive criminal imagination". According to psychiatric reports, Roberts suffers from a personality disorder resulting in grandiose and narcissistic behaviour.