A man who admitted stealing his mother’s debit card to buy a plane ticket has been ordered to repay her or face time behind bars.

Jermaine Nesbitt, 42, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court this morning to one count of stealing a Bank of Butterfield debit card and one count of dishonestly obtaining an American Airlines ticket to Florida.

Prosecutor Susan Mulligan told the court that the defendant’s mother, 68-year-old Jender Kellman, went to sleep at her home on the evening of August 30, leaving her personal possessions, including her debit card, by her bed.

The following day she called the Bank of Butterfield to check her account balance and, while the account should have contained her wages and pension, she was told it contained only three dollars. She subsequently discovered her bank card was missing.

The court heard that, as a result of the theft, she was unable to pay for her rent, bills or groceries, although her landlord agreed to give her an extension.

Ms Kellman later met with bank staff, who informed her the stolen card had been used at the American Airlines office at LF Wade International Airport to purchase a $645.19 plane ticket in the name of her son.

It was discovered that Nesbitt flew to Orlando, Florida on August 31 and returned on September 3.

Nesbitt was arrested on Monday and, during a police interview, admitted the theft. He told officers he had stolen the card because his eight-year-old son had been involved in a car accident and was in hospital in Florida, but he was unable to pay for a flight himself.

Nesbitt told the court that he had spoken to his mother about the incident and had agreed to fully reimburse her for the cost of the ticket. While he said he had been unemployed, he had found work as a barber and would be able to repay her in two weeks time.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner offered Nesbitt a 12-month conditional discharge, ordering that he make full restitution to his mother within two weeks.

He warned the defendant: “If this money isn’t paid in two weeks time, I’m going to lock you up.”

• Editor’s note: On occasion The Royal Gazette may decide to not allow comments on what we consider to be a controversial or contentious story. As we are legally liable for any defamatory comments made on our website, this move is for our protection as well as that of our readers.