the six bottles of wine he stole from the Fisherman's Reef restaurant.

Lionel Frates of Parsons Road pleaded guilty to the theft in Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Prosecuting, Sgt. Wilbert McLean told the Court at 9.30 p.m. on Friday, July 10, a waitress at the Fisherman's Reef restaurant saw a man in the store cupboard removing wine bottles.

"After leaving the cupboard, Frates began walking up Burnaby Street,'' Sgt.

McLean said. "The waitress told the maitre d' of the restaurant what was going on and he chased Frates.

"When the maitre d' confronted him, Frates swore at him and told him to take the wine. He then ran off.'' The maitre d' informed the Police of the incident and the following day he and an officer spotted Frates who denied any knowledge of the incident, Sgt.

McLean said.

"He was later charged with the offence. When the Police questioned him at the station, Frates told them that it was his birthday and he was under the influence,'' Sgt. McLean said.

He added that Frates had previous convictions for theft.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Frates $300.