A St. David's man admitted to trying to cash a stolen cheque.

At Magistrates' Court on Monday, Joseph Lima, of Lighthouse Road, was charged with stealing two cheque books in Pembroke between August 14 and September 6 of this year. He denied these charges.

However, the 42-year-old pleaded guilty to dishonestly receiving stolen goods, namely a cheque, completing the cheque with intention to use it, using the cheque with intention to use as genuine and attempting to dishonestly obtain $800 by cashing the cheque on September 21 in St. George's. The court heard from prosecutor Nicole Smith that the complainants in the matter had a checking account at the Bank of Butterfield with multiple cheque books.

They left the Island on July 28 for vacation and left the cheque books in the care of their daughter in case she had to pay any bills for them. On Wednesday, September 19, the complainants called their daughter because the account had been overdrawn. She checked the account online and noticed there were transactions she didn't make.

She reported the incident to the bank and the Police.

The bank sent out memos to all of their branches warning employees about the stolen cheques.

On September 21, Lima went to the St. George's branch and attempted to cash a cheque made out to him and allegedly signed by the complainant. He was arrested and taken to Southside Police Station.

In court, Lima said: "I am embarrassed to be here this morning. I apologise.''

He will reappear in court on October 31 for sentencing and to deal with the charges he denied.