after admitting a string of fraud and theft charges.

Jeremy Whitecross, 22, of no fixed abode was charged with stealing a Subaru car and a motorbike in a summer thieving spree.

And in August he cashed several Bank of Bermuda cheques belonging to an insurance company valued at more than $3,000.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor explained how the Subaru car had been left at the National Stadium after breaking down. But when the owner returned two weeks later he found his vehicle missing. He reported the incident to the Police who called on Whitecross after being tipped-off by a neighbour.

Whitecross explained that he thought the vehicle had been scrapped and towed it home. But he said he planned to contact the owner and arrange to buy the vehicle after discovering registration documents in the glove compartment.

A few weeks later Whitecross stole a Suzuki motorbike from outside a house on Tribe Road No. 3 in Devonshire. He once again pleaded guilty to the offence but claimed the vehicle had been left abandoned "in some trees'' and would not start. He sold the bike a day later in order, he claimed, to buy drugs.

But Whitecross denied a third charge, the theft of a Peugot motorbike in Smith's on June 21. he will stand trial for that offence next year. The court also heard how Whitecross cashed cheques worth more than $3,000 in a four day period in August after finding a cheque book belonging to the Lex International Insurance Company.

Whitecross was eventually arrested in connection with the incident after returning unused cheques to the insurance company. He pleaded guilty to three counts of cheque fraud and asked for a further 15 similar offences to be taken into consideration.

Before being sentenced Whitecross threw himself on the mercy of the magistrate, saying that he was now trying to get his life in order.

Magistrate Ed King remanded Whitecross in custody until November 27 so that a social inquiry report could be prepared.