A woman who cashed pay cheques that had been lost by their owner was handed a conditional discharge by a Magistrate.

Tina Ray, 36, of Spring Hill, Warwick, admitted obtaining property by deception when she appeared at Magistrates' Court.

Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess told the court that victim Romina Anastaseco, who works at Henry VIII restaurant, lost the cheques from her pocket as she rode her bike into work around 9.10 a.m on July 17.

At 10 a.m., Ray cashed the cheques to obtain $1,343.97 at the Bank of Butterfield. She was arrested at the same bank on August 16 — although Ms Burgess did not outline the circumstances of the arrest.

Ray told the Police she had been at the Fairmont Southampton hotel applying for a job when she was approached by a Jamaican man who asked her to cash the cheques for him. She identified the man as "Garvin", telling the Police she had some suspicious, but Garvin told her he had permission to cash them.

Ray has no previous convictions.

Defence lawyer Llewellyn Peniston said Ray had "a minor part to play and the other defendant is not before the court". He added that she only received $50 for her role.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered her to pay the money back and stay out of trouble for the next 12 months under the terms of the conditional discharge.