spree has earned a Pembroke man a date with a Supreme Court judge.

Magistrate Archibald Warner ordered Ali Abdullah Hussein Virgil to be remanded in custody until he can be sentenced by the higher court.

Virgil, who expressed his remorse for his crime spree, quietly swore before he was taken away by prison officers.

He had told Mr. Warner: "I was unemployed and temptation got the best of me.'' Magistrates' sentencing powers for most summary trials are limited to one year and they have the power to remit the case to a Supreme Court judge who could put Virgil in jail for up to five years.

Mr. Warner had heard that Virgil was cleaning his 45 Dundonald Street apartment on March 13 when he stole a Fun Seekers Bowling League chequebook from house mate, president Albert Noel Minors' bowling bag.

Virgil pleaded guilty to stealing 15 cheques, forging Mr. Minors' signature on three cheques, falsely uttering two cheques to the Shopping Centre and one cheque to Richard Lewis.

He also admitted obtaining money and goods from the fraudulent transactions by false pretences.

Virgil has an extensive criminal record going back to 1994 for similar offences. Explaining his actions Virgil said: "God works in mysterious ways.'' Crown counsel Leighton Rochester noted that Virgil had abused the trust of his co-habitants who worked at The Cake Shop and The Bowling League.

The Court heard that on a number of occasions Virgil had stolen the shop keys to the bakery and removed a quantity of items including liquor, food and alcohol.

Peter Curley, the manager of Bakery, had discovered that the secured doors to the shop had been opened and items had been stolen.

According to Virgil he had a conflict with the manager of The Spring Garden, so in "spite'' he decided rob the restaurant.

Virgil told the court: "I apologise for my actions and there is nothing I could say to justify any actions.'' Virgil said he was frustrated at not finding a job in order to pay child support for his daughter and pleaded with the magistrate to be as lenient as possible.

Virgil has already served time for non-payment of child support and it was not the first time that he had appeared before Mr. Warner.