An unemployed woman who claimed that her life had changed and that she was now "saved" was told "history shows that some of those church people are strange people" by acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves last week.

Sharon Caines, of Anchorage View Road, St. George's, admitted stealing hair dye from Shelly Bay Market Place on June 27.

Crown counsel Shade Subair told the court that a manager saw Caines slipping the hair dye into her bag. He waited for her to purchase the rest of her groceries before approaching her about the hair dye. Caines had asked the manager not to call the Police as she was on parole and said she would pay for the item instead. She was arrested and taken to St. George's Police Station where when asked why did she do it she said: "I thought that I could get away with it."

Ms Subair said: "Caines has a novel of previous convictions."

Mr. Greaves asked if she had anything to say before he sentenced her.

Caines said: "My life has changed, I'm a Christian now."

But Mr. Greaves replied: "History shows that some of those church people are some strange people. You are on parole and you breach it for some hair dye. A man stole bread from the temple and the Lord said let him go, but you don't need hair dye - it doesn't make any sense.

"You will have to speak to the Lord and get an offering or 90 days in jail," Mr. Greaves said after handing down a fine of $250 or 90 days in prison.