number of forgery and theft charges will have to wait for the Supreme Court to decide his fate.

Clarence N. Simmons of Horseshoe Road told the court that he committed the offences in order to support his drug habit.

Simmons admitted that he obtained $2,175 from local banks by forging three cheques from Rego Limited. Simmons stole six cheques while helping a lady friend clean the company's offices. The woman was unaware of the theft. Rego Limited's office manager reported the missing cheques to Police on June 3.

Police Sgt. Rex Osborne, prosecuting, told the court that Simmons also faced four additional charges of theft. In each case, he entered the premises under false pretences.

The first incident occurred on July 29, when Simmons approached a woman sitting on her front porch on Happy Valley Road in Pembroke, and asked if he could use her telephone. Sgt. Osborne said Simmons spent approximately ten minutes in the home unsupervised before leaving. When the woman later went to a dresser to get money for groceries, she discovered $180 missing.

On August 23, Simmons gained entry to a Southampton residence under the pretext of wanting to see the woman's grandson, who was not in. While in the Scenic Heights home, Simmons entered a bedroom and stole $232.

Blue Horizons guest house on South Road in Warwick was Simmons' next victim.

Sgt. Osborne said he reserved a room "for a friend'', and on September 3 was seen in the area of Blue Horizons' guest accommodations. When questioned by staff members, Simmons replied he was there to cancel the reservation. Later, a wallet containing $200 was found to be missing from one of the rooms.

The very next day, Simmons stole a handbag containing $30 from a Warwick resident. Sgt. Osborne said Simmons once again used the telephone ploy to gain entry. He asked the woman for a glass of water and, while she was out of the room, snatched the bag.

Mr. Archie Warner, defending, asked Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis to grant bail, despite Simmons' "lengthy history'' of theft and forgery, which dates back to 1981. Mr. Warner said his client freely admitted to the crimes, had paid back two of his victims and is employed as a painter.

By granting bail, he argued, Simmons could continue to " straighten himself out'' by working and attending sessions at Addiction Services.

"He is making attempts to rid himself of the drug habit,'' said Mr. Warner.

"He himself has taken steps towards recovery.'' Mr. Warner also requested that a social inquiry report be made. Sgt. Osborne, while having no objections to the report, said that he did not believe bail was appropriate. He explained how similar promises had been made by Simmons in the past, and noted that some complainants were still waiting for their money.

Mr. Francis agreed with the prosecution, denying bail. He ordered a social inquiry report and forwarded Simmons' case to Supreme Court for sentencing.