A lawyer accused of stealing Easter lilies from a field tendered his resignation to his employers days after the incident.

David Morley said he feared he could lose his job with Milligan-Whyte and Smith, after a farmer caught him cutting 25 lilies -- worth about $20 -- in a field off Middle Road, Devonshire.

Morley told Magistrate Arthur Hodgson that he fully intended to pay for the flowers -- but farmer Joseph Pacheco refused his offer, saying the matter would be dealt with by Police.

Previously, Mr. Pacheco had suffered numerous thefts and incidents of trespass on his farm.

Morley, 39, of Church Crescent, Shelly Bay, pleaded not guilty to theft on April 12.

The three-hour trial was halted to allow Mr. Hodgson to visit the farm. It will conclude today. During the proceedings, Leighton Rochester, prosecuting, said Mr. Pacheco was at his home, Locust Farm on Locust Lane, when he spotted a motorbike riding up a dirt lane towards a field of lilies.

When he approached the field he spotted Morley cutting lilies. After taking note of the motorbike's number plate, he shouted "You thief, you came on Easter Sunday to steal lilies''.

The Police were called and Mr. Pacheco blocked the lane with his golf cart as Morley arrived on his bike.

In court, Mr. Pacheco said that Morley offered to pay for the flowers but he replied: "If you had wanted to pay for the flowers you wouldn't need to bring a knife to cut them, you would have come to the house to buy them''.

The day after the incident Morley called the farmer and asked if he would drop the charges because "he could probably lose his job''.

Richard Hector, defending, said Morley saw a sign advertising flowers and drove in looking for the field. There was some dispute whether he could actually see Mr. Pacheco's house from the lane. He offered to pay for the flowers and leave his driving licence, but Mr. Pacheco replied that he didn't want his money because he was a thief, said Mr. Hector.

Morley had originally gone to buy flowers at the Bermuda Perfume Factory but they were closed. At Locust Farm he proceeded to help himself -- the same procedure that was used at the perfume factory when he bought flowers there last year.

LAWYERS LEG