jailed him for nine months on cheque fraud charges.

Ratteray, 37 last week, admitted a total of 13 charges in connection with misuse of a joint bank account held by his father Ivan and brother Vincent.

The court heard that Ratteray, in March and April, stole a chequebook and used it to obtain around $260 in goods from various shops.

Defence Counsel Mark Pettingill asked that the accused's pleas of guilty -- and asking for 27 similar offences to be taken into account -- should earn a lighter sentence.

He added that Labour and Home Affairs Minister Quinton Edness had come to an earlier appearance at Magistrate's Court by the accused to act as a character witness.

And Mr. Pettingill said that Ratteray, a divorced man with six children who he was attempting to provide support for, had been backed by the hotel where he was employed as a hotel porter before being taken into custody on the cheque charges almost three months ago.

But Puisne Judge Richard Ground noted that Ratteray was a repeat offender.

He told the accused: "The problem with these offences is that the cheques were honoured by the bank -- but they might not have been.

"It is serious dishonesty and it runs a real risk of causing harm to other people, not just the person on whose account they were drawn.'' Ratteray had been remanded for sentence by a Magistrate to the upper court after an earlier appearance.

Mr. Justice Ground said he did not necessarily agree with that decision, but added: "That doesn't mean it doesn't deserve a term of imprisonment.'' But, passing sentence, he ordered that time in custody should count towards the jail term.

And he warned Ratteray: "When you do come out I want you to learn the lesson -- if you repeat this in the future, you will go to prison for a longer time in the future.''