get cash and clothes worth more than $5,000.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis last week sent Sharon Laverne Caines to Supreme Court because he said the maximum 12-month sentence he could give was inadequate for the crime.

Caines, 34, of Scenic Heights, was charged on Thursday with eight counts involving theft of cheques, fraud, knowingly uttering the cheques and making false documents. The total amount involved was $1261.50.

She also asked for 14 similar offences to be taken into consideration, amounting to $2,000.30.

Caines also admitted similar offences, amounting to $2,025, which happened late last year.

Prosecuting Sgt. Kenrick James said the most recent offences occurred in March when Caines defrauded the Longtail Cliffs Guest House, Warwick, the Sandpiper Apartment, Warwick, and A1 MarketPlace, in Paget.

The offences in December were confined to businesses in Hamilton. Sgt. James said some of the businesses were conned into giving cash as well as goods for the cheques.

Sgt. James said: "She said she had committed the offences to support her addiction to cocaine.'' He said Caines had an extensive record of similar offences and already had two and a half years of suspended prison sentences outstanding.

Mr. Francis said: "Your whole situation needs to be looked at by a court that has far greater powers than I have. It certainly warrants far more than the 12 months prison sentence that I can give you.'' Concerning unpaid fines of $5,300 Mr. Francis said they would be dealt with after Caines had appeared in Supreme Court.