spend the next nine months in prison for going on a spending spree in Bermuda.

Leon Craddock and Datina Jeanette Robinson yesterday admitted, in Magistrates' Court, to using bogus credit cards to buy luxury jewellery, clothes, luggage, champagne, meals and hotel accommodation worth at least $20,000.

Craddock, who has an extensive criminal record dating back to 1973, is wanted for similar offences in three US states, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The FBI informed the Crown that Robinson, who has previous convictions for dishonesty, is a member of the same credit card fraud ring as Craddock, Junior Crown counsel Veronica Daley said.

The pair, who are from Philadelphia, were detained by US Customs officers at the airport last Wednesday as they were leaving the Island. But two others who travelled with them to the Island three days earlier escaped. Craddock, 44, who is unmarried but has 11 children, and Robinson, 27, who has two children and has apparently just become pregnant, were found by US Customs officers to have fake identification and credit cards.

Craddock pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud worth $8,023 and asked for seven further offences to be taken into consideration.

Robinson admitted five offences of fraud worth $12,000 and asked for six other offences to be taken into consideration.

Mrs. Daley said Craddock used a bogus American Express card to obtain goods worth $365 from Bermuda Wines and Spirits.

He used other fake cards to obtain goods worth $840 from Cecile's, luggage of $2,905 from the Atlantic Luggage Company, and a diamond bracelet valued at $2,120 from Astwood Dickinson.

Craddock, Robinson and two others arrived on the Island on October 10 and stayed for three nights at the Grotto Bay Hotel.

Robinson used a false credit card to pay for the group's accommodation and meals at the hotel.

She also admitted defrauding the jewellers H.S. & J.E. Crisson Ltd. of three Rado watches, a 14-carat gold diamond ring, and an 18-carat gold bracelet worth a total of $5,073.

She further defrauded the Atlantic Luggage Company of luggage worth $1,925 and Triangles Ltd. of clothing worth $1,475.

In both cases, the pair co-operated with authorities and 90 percent of the stolen goods were recovered by Police.

Referring to Craddock, Mrs. Daley said: "We have FBI information that the defendant is a member of a credit card fraud ring and is wanted in three states for similar offences.

"There are a great number of offences listed against him in the US for dishonesty and he has served time. He has an extensive criminal history that dates to 1973.

"The Crown's view is that the courts must send a strong message that Bermuda won't tolerate this type of behaviour and criminal rings.'' Defence lawyer Mark Pettingill argued for a non-custodial sentence because US authorities were waiting to deal with Craddock.

"There is no question that when Mr. Craddock leaves here, he has a welcoming committee at the other end of his flight,'' he said.

Mr. Pettingill argued that the US authorities could pay for the incarceration of Craddock, but Magistrate Archibald Warner retorted: "He committed the offences here.'' The court also heard that Robinson had left prison two weeks ago for offences of dishonesty, but that she claimed to be six-weeks pregnant.

Mr. Warner asked how she came to be six-weeks pregnant if she left prison two weeks ago. Mr. Pettingill then informed the court that his client had actually been released six weeks ago.

Arguing for a non-custodial sentence, Mr. Pettingill said Robinson would be arrested as soon as she reached the US for offences there.

Mr. Warner said he did not know what Mr. Pettingill was talking about. He asked what was wrong with her staying in Bermuda before then.

Mr. Pettingill replied: "To cool out? It's hardly a holiday resort.''