A 22-year-old mother spent a week at the Sonesta Beach Hotel after stealing and forging a cheque from her employer, Magistrates? Court heard last week.

Johneika R. Smith of Ewing Street, Pembroke, said on Thursday that she and her two children, aged one and two, ?didn?t have anywhere else to go at the time?.

?You picked an expensive hotel,? Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves said.

Smith pleaded guilty to stealing, forging and incurring a debt of liability of $845 with a Bank of Butterfield cheque that belonged to Lana Jordan.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said that Smith went into the backroom of Voila, a Front Street shoe store, and removed a blank cheque from Ms Jordan?s unattended purse.

After the bank phoned Ms Jordan about an overdrawn account, it was discovered that cheque number 199 was stolen and forged.

Police investigated and charged Smith on April 9. Peter Farge represented Smith.

Smith said she went to the hotel because, at the time, she was having family problems and had already stayed with friends for two months.

She said she was willing to apologise and give back what she had taken.

He ordered a social inquiry report and set Smith down for mention on May 27.