man in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Perry Angelo Goater pleaded guilty to "incurring a debt ... by means of fraud other than through false pretences.'' Prosecutor Sgt. Ken James said Goater entered a taxi on Court Street on the night of September 13 with two women from the United States.

He asked the driver to take them to a home in Palm Valley, Pembroke. When the women got out of the car, Goater told the driver he would take care of their fares after being dropped off at his Loyal Hill home.

But Sgt. James told the court that Goater "got out and never came back.'' The following day, the taxi driver returned to Loyal Hill but Goater "didn't answer his door''.

Following his arrest, Goater admitted the offence to Police and said he was sorry. He agreed to reimburse the driver "yet he's here in court,'' Sgt.

James said.

Goater told the court that he asked the driver to give him time to go into his house and get the money. But when he returned, he said, the cab was going down the hill and "I couldn't catch him''.

Goater said he saw the driver the next day and said he would give him the money, but the driver replied that he had already reported Goater to Police.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis fined Goater $150 with an order that $28.25 be paid to the taxi driver.