amount than he was depositing.

Jahmeco Blakeney, 19, of Angle Street, pleaded guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday to the charge of theft. The court heard that Blakeney deposited a Visa traveller's cheque for $20, but instead punched in the amount as $2,000 in one of the Bank of Bermuda's ATMs on August 24.

At 1 p.m. the same day he called the bank telephone service and confirmed the $2,000 deposit. At 6.35 p.m. Blakeney attempted to withdraw the $2,000 from his account and was denied (due to maximum withdrawal restrictions). He then successfully withdrew $1,000 from his account.

He also transferred $500 from one account to another of his accounts.

But when he tried to withdraw an additional $500, he was denied because he had reached his limit.

Bank employees discovered the incorrect deposit on August 25. On August 26, Blakeney was arrested and brought to Hamilton Police Station.

Blakeney admitted the crime and said he had intended to use the money toward travel overseas. He also said he had spent some of the money on food, entertainment and a birth certificate. The certificate was later recovered.

Blakeney has made full restitution to the Bank of Bermuda.

Yesterday he apologised for taking the money and said it would never happen again. He received a 12-month conditional discharge due to the fact that he had no previous convictions.

FOCUS ON FIRE SAFETY FIR Focus on fire safety The Fire Service will hold its annual fire safety awareness programme next month.

The event will run from November 1 until November 19 and will be held at the Fire Service Headquarters on King Street in Hamilton.

Two contests will be held during that period -- the annual Martin E. Grimes Memorial Short Story contest and the annual Poster Contest.

The public are invited to call 292-5555 to arrange group visits.

Nursery and pre-school visits will take place between 9.30 a.m. and noon while primary schools can visit between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Monday to Friday.

MEN DENY STRIP SHOW CHARGES CTS Men deny strip show charges Two people charged over a strip show at the Spinning Wheel nightclub will face trial on February 24.

Terry Burgess and Gladwin Ming appeared in Magistrates' Court this week over a charge of without lawful justification exhibiting an indecent show or performance in a public place.

Burgess, 35, of Khyber Heights Lane, Warwick and Ming, 62, of Radnor Estate Road, Hamilton, both deny the charge.

MAN BEATEN UP AFTER NIGHT OUT CRM Man beaten up after night out Police rushed to the junction of Frog Lane and Parson's Road, Pembroke at 1 a.m. yesterday to find a man bleeding profusely from head wounds. The victim said he had spent the evening out with friends at the Spinning Wheel night club in Hamilton and that he and another man left the club at about midnight.

The man said the other man later assaulted him by striking him repeatedly in the head and demanded money before making off with his wallet containing cash and personal identification.

WOMAN'S CD PLAYER STOLEN CRM Woman's CD player stolen Police officers are investigating a pair of break-ins which occurred between Wednesday and early yesterday morning.

A woman reported on Wednesday that she left her Tele Lane, Warwick residence secured and returned an hour later to find certain items suspiciously out of place. While calling the Police, she saw a man attempting to leave the residence and confronted him. But he left before Police arrived.

Officers also attended an Ord Road, Paget residence at about 6.45 a.m.

yesterday after a break-in was reported at the site.

The owner said someone entered the residence between 1 p.m. on Wednesday and 6.30 a.m. yesterday and removed a brand new Sony Compact Disc player.

VIP LAUNCHES PEER AWARDS AWD VIP launches peer awards The Visitor Industry Partnership has launched a peer-nominated awards scheme for residents who have gone above and beyond tourism's call of duty. VIP spokeswoman Stacey Evans noted that a major advertising campaign was underway to push the Excellence Awards.

The scheme is different to the very popular quarterly Sunshine Awards Programme in which only visitors can nominate residents.

"The VIP encourages people to nominate more than one person and not just from their own place of work,'' Ms Evans said.

"Nomination forms are available throughout the Island and you can find one in the October 12 edition of The Royal Gazette . All nominations can be faxed or mailed to the VIP.'' Extra special events coordinator Geneva Humdy-Woodley has been hired to interview all the nominees and will help choreograph the Excellence Awards at the Southampton Princess Amphitheatre on November 27 in "Academy Awards style fashion''.

Three nominees from each of the 15 categories will be invited with guests to the black-tie affair when Bermuda will salute its Tourism and Hospitality Stars. Tickets for the event will go on sale November 1. For further information contact Ms Evans on 232-1847 or 297-1998.

CAR FIRE ON COX'S HILL FIR Car fire on Cox's Hill The Fire Service is investigating an automobile fire that took place on Cox's Hill in Pembroke.

Some $100 worth of damage was caused to the paint work on the right side of the car bonnet during the fire around 2.30 a.m. on October 11.

The fire was out when firefighters arrived and no one was in the car at the time of the fire.

CYCLE RIDER'S BAG SNATCHED CRM Cycle rider's bag snatched A resident became the latest victim of a handbag snatch yesterday morning.

The female complainant said she was riding her cycle east on South Road near the entrance of Horizons in Paget, when she became aware of a motorcycle drawing alongside her.

The pillion passenger on the other cycle then grabbed her knapsack from the basket.

The offending pair sped north towards the cottage colony's service entrance.

Little description was given of them.

The knapsack contained several items of clothing and other personal items.