Demar Fishenden, a Hamilton Parish man, admitted to refusing to pay his cab fare when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard from Crown Counsel Maria Sofianos that on January 30, Mr Gilbert Pearman, a taxi driver, picked up fare, Fishenden, from the 24-hour Esso Service Station to St. George's. The fare totalled $40, and Fishenden gave Mr. Pearman $14 and said he would be back with the rest. He left his food in the taxi as proof that he would return. Mr. Pearman said he waited approximately 15 minutes by which time the fare had increased to $43.20.

Fishenden never returned and Mr. Pearman was unaware of where he went.

Two months later Fishenden attempted to hire Mr. Pearman's taxi again and he told Fishenden that he recognised him from the previous incident.

Fishenden then walked away and Mr. Pearman called the Police. Police later found Fishenden, arrested him and took him to a Police Station where he was questioned about the incident.

"Yes it's true I was out, for the night drinking. I gave him $15," he told Police in reference to the January 30 incident.

He also told Police that he knew he didn't have the money before he got into the taxi.

"I apologise to the taxi driver and I can give the balance of the fare now," Fishenden told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

Mr. Warner asked Fishenden if he thought this was a joke and asked Fishenden to tell him why he should not send him to Westgate. He also told him that he doesn't like his attitude towards the offence. Fishenden was fined $2,000 plus the $43.20 owed to the taxi driver.