serve an additional two years in prison.

Wendy Katherine Lightbourne, who began serving her activated 18 month suspended sentence last June, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of stealing, fraud, money laundering and forgery.

In addition, 81 other offences were taken into account for the 28-year-old woman whose criminal record dates back to 1996.

The court heard the Devonshire woman went on a shopping spree from January to June of last year using stolen cheques from her brother and three other people.

Lightbourne made purchases in clothing stores, electronic stores, beauty parlours, a guest house and a number of restaurants.

The total of the goods and services obtained through forgery was $5,403.27 and the total of the goods in the offences taken into account was $1,459.39.

An aggravating feature of the case according to Crown counsel Juan Wolffe was that Lightbourne was on bail when she committed some of the offences. He called for a prison sentence between three and a half and five years.

A psychological report revealed no mental imbalances that would lead Lightbourne to commit the offences. And Mr. Wolffe charged that her actions could not have been out of need, as she had not had custody of her ten-year-old child for at least six years.

Tearful, Lightbourne told the court that having her child with her has changed her life and that the counselling she has received while incarcerated has helped her.

She will be allowed to keep her baby with her for up to a year while she serves her time.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller said Lightbourne's actions were clearly a personal choice before handing down the sentence.

She recommended that the woman continue counselling.

SPATE OF WEEKEND BREAK-INS REPORTED CRM Spate of weekend break-ins reported Thieves have struck across Bermuda in the last few days, stealing everything from a television to plastic-lined boxes.

Someone stole cash and a laptop from Fourways Restaurant on Middle Road in Warwick. Investigations revealed the thief gained entry through an unlocked window.

Another thief tried to break into a cash tray in a bus parked near Whale Bay Road, Southampton on Monday afternoon. The incompetent thief managed to break the glass in the coin receptacle but could not get the money underneath the flip lid.

A television was stolen from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's emergency department waiting room. Apparently, the thief walked in around 6 p.m. on Monday, grabbed the television and walked out.