already serving a six-month suspended sentence for similar charges was yesterday remanded in custody to await the findings of a social inquiry report.

Randolph Anthony Simons pleaded guilty before Senior Magistrate William Francis to ten charges of fraud, misrepresentation, and making false pretence stemming from a two-month fraud spree which netted him nearly $1,500 in ill-gotten goods.

Simons, represented by lawyer Victoria Pearman, denied that he stole the cheques from a Southampton residence.

Prosecutor Sgt. Anthony Mouchette said Simons was finally caught when the owner of Arnold's Family Market recognised the name on a cheque Simons had attempted to tender for $103 worth of groceries.

When confronted by the owner, Simons, groceries in hand, ran off. He was subsequently picked up and admitted the offence.

In addition to his attempt to defraud Arnold's, Simons pleaded guilty to writing a fraudulent cheque for $500 worth of clothing from Sports R Us. He then admitted to defrauding the Shelly Bay MarketPlace of $450 worth of groceries, and Mel's Showcase, where he bought a $135 watch.

Simons told Police he sold the clothing and the watch on the street and used the money to buy drugs. Nothing has been recovered, said Sgt. Mouchette.

Ms Pearman, urging Simons not be remanded in custody, asked the Court to take into consideration the defendant's drug dependency problem and the fact that he was a father of three children. In the meantime she told Mr. Francis, she would be inquiring into placing Simons in an overseas drug treatment programme.

Mr. Francis replied that Simons must have realised the consequences of breaching his suspended sentence; he ordered him held in custody while Probation Services prepared the SIR.