The long arm of the law has finally caught up with a Pembroke man who stole a Government cheque worth ten cents in 1998.

William Edward Davis appeared in court yesterday charged with four counts of stealing the cheque (made out in the amount of $480), and attempting to cash it at the Empire Grocery in March of 1998.

The cheque belonged to a senior who Davis had been living with at the time. The senior, who survived solely on his pension, had been taken ill and was in hospital. When his son went to the house to collect the pension cheques for March, they were missing.

The Police arrested Davis in August of 1998, and he was bailed to appear on August 19, 1998. He never showed. At the time, he was 28 years old.

"What were doing in all that time?" Senior Magistrate Archie Warner asked Davis yesterday.

Saying he had been down and out, Davis told the magistrate he was homeless for a while, and had spent some time fishing. He now has a job as a skilled labourer, though he complained work was hard to get for several years.

"Give me a break," Mr. Warner replied. "You're a skilled labourer."

"I was also using drugs," Davis admitted. "I've been straight for three years."

Mr. Warner fined him $200 and ordered him to repay the $480 to the senior, who went into a rest home immediately after his illness in 1998. It is not clear whether or not that senior is still living.

Coleman steps into the political ring

Former US Consul General Denis Coleman, who clashed with local politicians on a number of occasions while holding the post in Bermuda, has become a politician himself.

Mr. Coleman, 58, who was Consul General from 2002 to 2004, was elected unopposed as a City councillor for the wealthy town of Palm Beach, Florida.

Mr. Coleman, a former executive vice president at The Bear Stearns investment group of companies, replaced McLendon, who is running for mayor. This is his first bid for public office.

Palm Beach resident Bruce McAllister, who nominated Mr. Coleman, called him a thoughtful and civic-minded man with a razor-sharp wit. Mr. Coleman is a tough competitor who has given much of his time to raise money for many worthy causes, Mr. McAllister said.

"Denis fought his way to the top in over 20 years at Bear Stearns," he said. "Bear Stearns is one of the toughest, most competitive environments in the world."

Island doesn't qualify for seat sale

Bermuda has not been included in Delta Airlines' new fares which have been slashed by up to 50 percent.

The new structure removes premiums on last minute travel and other complications making no one way economy fare more than $499 one-way. However it only applies in 48 American states and not to Bermuda.