yesterday after pleading guilty to numerous charges of fraud.

Randolph Anthony Simons, who committed the offences while serving a six-month suspended sentence on similar charges, was represented by lawyer Victoria Pearman in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

He pleaded guilty in June to ten charges of fraud, misrepresentation, and making false pretence stemming from a two-month spree which netted him nearly $1,500 in ill-gotten goods.

These included attempting to defraud Arnold's Family Market of $103 worth of groceries, writing a fraudulent cheque for $500 worth of clothing from Sports R Us, defrauding the Shelly Bay MarketPlace of $450 worth of groceries, and Mel's Showcase, where he bought a $135 watch.

Simons said he sold the goods and used the money to buy drugs. None of the items have been recovered.

Yesterday Ms Pearman told the court that Simons had been accepted into the Salvation Army Harbour Light rehabilitation programme.

Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said he had no objections to the plan.

Ms Pearman asked Magistrate Arthur Hodgson to make the probation order effective as of today to ensure a smooth transition from the Prison Farm, where her client was on remand, to the treatment centre.

One condition of the probation order is that Simons must complete the rehabilitation programme and enter a follow up programme thereafter.

Simons will also be reviewed every three months to see how he is doing.