to find out why she stole a bank bag containing $1,146.

Last week Magistrate Edward King ordered a social inquiry report on Kylah Stowe who pleaded guilty to stealing the bank bag with cash and cheques from Masters Ltd. Esso service station in Smith's Parish on January 8.

Crown counsel Larry Mussenden said Stowe was working as a pump attendant shortly before 7 a.m. when she entered an office and rifled through a desk.

Stowe, 24, of 9 South Terrace, told Police she stuffed the locked bag under her coat and returned to work.

Later that morning she was arrested in Hamilton on another matter and taken to Hamilton Police Station. While at the station Police received a complaint from a Masters manager that Stowe had stolen the bag. Mr. Mussenden said she later admitted the offence and said she drove to a secluded area of Orange Valley, Devonshire, where she cut the bag open to get the money. Stowe told officers she lost some of the money from an insecure pocket while riding and also flushed some of it down a Police toilet, while waiting to be interviewed.

Her lawyer, Elizabeth Christopher, said Stowe was "extremely remorseful'' and did the crime to be able to pay for an apartment. Since the incident, Stowe had moved back into her mother's home and had casual work but was looking for permanent work. "Even I have observed some changes in her since I took this case,'' Ms Christopher said. "She was subject to some influence of her boyfriend who is now in custody.'' Ms Christopher suggested Mr. King order a social inquiry report and said this was Stowe's first conviction for dishonesty.

Mr. King agreed and ordered Stowe to return to court on June 11 for sentencing.