co-ordinator on Friday had stolen two other bags earlier that day.

Karen Denbrook, 37, was remanded in custody for two weeks until a social inquiry report is prepared.

Denbrook admitted stealing three handbags which, together with their contents, were worth a total of $195.

Prosecuting Sgt. Kenrick James said that the first was taken from the occupational therapy unit at St. Brendan's Hospital. It belonged to a woman who had been receiving therapy as an outpatient. She had left the bag unattended.

It was later found in a trash can outside the hospital minus the $25 cash which had been inside.

Sgt. James said the second handbag was stolen from a desk at the Department of Education that was also found in a trash can without $10 in cash.

Later that day Agape House co-ordinator Mrs. Hilary Soares found that her handbag was missing.

Denbrook was stopped and the bag was found inside her carrier bag. Police were called and she was arrested.

She told Police that she needed the money because she wanted to buy food and clothes.

Sgt. James said that she had previous convictions for similar offences in the past.

He said: "She is a person in need of assistance. It would be in her own interests if consideration was given to her well being.'' Denbrook was remanded in custody until July 12 while a social inquiry report is prepared.

Social inquiry report ordered for man A 46-year-old man stole from his employers and led a chase through the streets, which ended in the assault of a fellow worker, Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

Shelton Hilgrave Simons, who lives in a Salvation Army shelter, pleaded guilty to unlawful assault and to stealing $7,042.26 from the Shopping Centre Ltd., where he was employed as a grocery packer.

Sgt. Kenrick James, prosecuting, told the court how Simons grabbed a cash register tray from a cashier as the store was closing on June 25 and ran off down Victoria Street. Hubert R. Faries, another employee, saw the tray in Simon's hand and gave chase.

Simons tripped on Dundonald Street and punched Faries in the eye when he tried to grab him. He ran off again but was apprehended by a Police officer, who found Simons to be in possession of cash.

Simons told officers he stole the money because he was depressed about his mother's death earlier in the year. He had taken to drinking and planned to use the money to buy a house in Jamaica.

The case was adjourned for two weeks pending a social inquiry report. Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis set bail at $500 and ordered Simons to stay away from the Shopping Centre Ltd.

`Wild West' warning for knife man Charles Nesbitt claims he carries a knife as protection from someone who is trying to kill him.

But Nesbitt received no sympathy from Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis who reminded him that he was not living in the "Wild West''.

The unemployed 42-year-old admitted carrying the 12-inch knife in a public place on Sunday.

Prosecuting Sgt. Kenrick James said that a Policeman on duty in Hamilton saw Nesbitt carrying what appeared to be a knife along Church Street on Sunday afternoon.

Sgt. James said: "An officer approached him and told him to put the knife down. Nesbitt said: `Come and get it off me.' "Other officers came and he put the knife on the ground. He said: `I have the knife for self-defence. I use it to protect myself.' "He was arrested and a 12-inch knife was confiscated by the Police officers.

He has previous convictions for possession of offensive weapons dating back to the 1970s and 1980s.'' Mr. Francis said: "You know you are not supposed to go around carrying weapons. If someone is endangering you then you go to the Police.'' Nesbitt said: "The Police are no help to me. They always harass me. I am trying to protect myself.'' Mr. Francis said: "This is not the Wild West. This sort of thing only gives you even more trouble.'' Duty Counsel Ms Patricia Harvey revealed that Nesbitt, of no fixed abode, believed someone "on the block'' was trying to kill him.

Mr. Francis remanded him in custody for three weeks while a social inquiry report and a psychiatric report are prepared.

Police get help in arresting thief An eagle-eyed member of the public helped Police to catch a thief who had snatched a camera from a car.

The thief Sinclair Lewis Fox, 44, of Bob's Valley Lane, Sandys, was fined $250 for the theft.

Prosecuting in Magistrates' Court yesterday, Sgt. Kenrick James said that Fox had been seen removing the camera, worth $100, from an unlocked car parked outside the MarketPlace in Hamilton, on Sunday.

The witness informed the Police who spotted Fox walking along Court Street with the camera.

Fox said: "I am not used to doing all this stuff. I broke my hip and I have been unable to get a job.'' He said that he had recently started a job again as a painter.