A woman who stole and forged three blank cheques from a Hamilton business, and an amount of cash from an aunt three years ago was last week sentenced to 12 months probation and ordered to pay back her illegal takings.

Marketa Raynor, a 21-year-old resident of Scott's Hill, Sandys, stole three blank cheques from Fresco's Deli Express where she worked as a waitress in September 2000.

Within weeks she had used the cheques to buy an air ticket and personal items, valued at over $1,300. Raynor told the court that she had spent three years off the Island after the offence and returned to "face the music" when she heard that a warrant was out for her arrest.

"I wasn't ready to face the music," she said when asked by Magistrate Carlisle Greaves why she left the Island, instead of dealing with the matter.

"But then it was time for me to grow up and get my life back on track."

She had not been going to school in the United States, she said when asked. "I was trying to find myself." Raynor said she had already spoken to the manager of Fresco's who gave her three months to repay the stolen money, and she came to court with a $700 bank draft for Fresco's.

She had pleaded guilty to the offences which also included breaking and entering an aunt's house in February 2000 and stealing $15 in cash.

The aunt had noticed money missing and installed a pinhole camera in a room to catch the culprit, the court heard.

Mr. Greaves put her on 12 months probation and ordered her to perform 120 hours of community service. She also has to repay the total amount of money stolen plus another $352 for the value of property she received on her illegal shopping spree.