jewellery from a Front Street department store was fined $300 in Magistrates' Court last week.

Francine Warren, 40, of St. George's, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing from Trimingham's.

But she explained she had seen a friend across the street and had hurried out to greet her forgetting she had put the jewellry in her handbag, said prosecutor Sgt. Kenrick James.

A shop assistant became suspicious when she saw Warren putting earrings in a folded newspaper. She then followed the defendant when she left the shop and confronted her.

Warren was arrested and taken to Hamilton Police Station. A search revealed she had only $40 in her possession at the time.

When asked why she stole the goods by Acting Magistrate the Wor. Edward Bailey, Warren replied she never even thought of taking the goods without paying for them and that she was choosing which earrings she wanted.

"The community cannot tolerate people pilfering from stores,'' said the Senior Magistrate. "But the embarassment of coming here at your age is enough.'' He administered a fine after warning Warren the offence could have warranted a custodial sentence.

HUNGRY THIEF GETS CAUGHT FLAT OUT CTS Hungry thief gets caught flat out A 40-year-old man who helped himself to a filet mignon steak, a can of tuna and beer after breaking into a Paget apartment was sent to jail pending a social inquiry report.

Colin Phillip Fubler, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to breaking into the apartment and stealing $32 worth of food and drink.

Inspector Peter Duffy told the court the owner of the apartment arrived at his home on September 25 to find the television on.

He saw Fubler sleeping on a couch. Fubler then jumped up and ran away. An inspection of the property revealed a broken pane of glass and a missing set of keys to the sliding glass doors, Inspector Duffy said.

The complainant said additional expenses incurred by the break-in included changing door locks and cleaning carpets which stank of rotting food.

Senior Magistrate, the Wor. William Francis remanded Fubler in custody while a social inquiry report is prepared.

GERMAN PUNISHED FOR DRUG OFFENCE CTS German punished for drug offence A German visitor was fined $200 after admitting possession of a pipe and plastic tube with traces of cocaine on them.

Peter Focke, 51, was arrested for possession of drug equipment on October 7 at a Pembroke residence, prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy told Magistrates' Court.

Narcotics officers were at the home when Focke arrived with a bag of groceries and appeared to try and remove an object from his trouser pocket, Insp. Duffy said.

A search revealed a homemade pipe with traces of white powder on it and a plastic tube with white residue on it. Both tested positive for cocaine in its powder and crack form, Insp. Duffy said.

He said Focke was a German citizen on holiday here who worked on a boat which visited Bermuda regularly.

RESISTING ARREST LEADS TO FINE CTS Resisting arrest leads to fine Senior magistrate, the Wor. William Francis fined a Sandys Parish man for using offensive words and assaulting a Police officer while resisting arrest.

Kirk Trott, 33, swore at officers and refused to be handcuffed when Police arrived to break up a brawl at the Somerset Bridge Recreation Club on October 20.

Prosecutor, Insp. Peter Duffy told Magistrates' Court that Trott struggled when officers tried to arrest him and pushed an officer into a wall.

Trott apologised to the court saying: "It was really stupid of me.

"We were having a good time and then it just broke into an argument and we began to fight.'' He was fined $100 for using offensive words and $150 for the assault.