An alleged conman charged with tricking his mother out of nearly $2,000 was branded a liar yesterday by a magistrate after he repeatedly changed his story about another matter.

Mark Robinson 36, of Sandys is accused of falsely using his mother Christine's Bank of Butterfield card to run up debts of $1,970 at Ariel Sands for food, accommodation and telephone calls this August. Robinson also appeared for not paying back $5,500 he was convicted of tricking out of Claude Burrows in May this year, and speeding at 55 kph in Middle Road, Southampton, in July.

When Robinson waffled on why he had not paid back the $5,500 to Mr. Burrows, Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves said: “You've told me fancy lies and I ain't going to trust you.

Robinson first said he paid $2,500 to Mr. Burrows and was told to come back a week later to pay the rest. Robinson had claimed he had then said he had paid the entire amount, only to change his story again to say that he was working at the time and he thought someone in his company had paid the money. Finally, he offered to pay the money.

“The man has given three different stories,” Mr. Greave said. “You get charged with fraud all the time and now you're trying to trick the court. You have met your match. I'm as smart as you are.”

Robinson will stand trial on January 9 on charges of falsely using his mother's bank card.

A teen girl who threw a bottle at another girl during a bar-room fight over a boyfriend was fined $1,000 yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

Kalisha Burgess, 18, of Southampton pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful wounding. Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told the court that Burgess had approached the other girl in the Showtime nightclub at Dockyard on June 8 at approximately 1.40 a.m.

The victim of the attack was standing with the man in question and Burgess confronted the two, telling the woman she should not be with him. There was a verbal exchange and then Burgess threw a bottle at the other woman, striking her in the face.

The victim had to be taken to hospital where she received two stitches, Ms Smith said. Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves asked Burgess whether the man she had fought over was her boyfriend. “He used to be,” she replied. Mr. Greaves told the teen she was focussing on the wrong things at an early stage in her life.

“See all those older people over there,” he said referring to the others waiting in court. “Ask them, any one of them, if they have the same boyfriend from when they were 18. Ask them.”

Mr. Greaves told the girl she should be focussing on her education. “Should I lock you up?” he asked. “Violence is violence. Fighting over a man already.”

Mr. Greaves elected to hand Burgess the maximum fine under the law for the offence - $1,000. “Which is chicken feed around here,” he quipped. Burgess must pay the fine by December 20 or spend three months in the Co-Ed Facility at Ferry Reach.

A British visitor was charged with importing heroin with intent to supply yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

Jason Barnett of Southampton, England was not required to plea to the charges against him as they will be heard in Supreme Court.

He was charged with two separate counts - importing heroin and importation with intent to supply on November 26. Barnett told the court that attorney Larry Scott would be representing him although he had yet to meet with him.

Barnett was remanded into custody until his next court appearance on December 11.

A teenager was fined $500 in Magistrates' Court yesterday for unlawful possession of a “fist knife”.

Stacy Keno Simpson, 17, of Clay Court in Hamilton Parish pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful possession of a weapon before Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves. Crown Counsel Charmaine Smith told the court Simpson was discovered with the knife when Police approached a group of boys on North Shore Road in Hamilton Parish on November 16.

When Simpson saw the officers he ran behind a building, Ms Smith said. He was detained and searched by Police who found the knife in the front pocket of the teen's jeans.

Mr. Greaves held a picture of the fist knife up before the court, saying he thought people should see what the hook-shaped, steel weapon looked life. “It looks like the tooth of a dinosaur,” Mr. Greaves said. “Tell me what a man can do with that? Peel an apple?”

Simpson told Police he carried the blade for his own protection. “That's a $500 knife,” Mr. Greaves said, handing down the fine. He also suggested to the boy's mother than she get him some help before he lands in more serious trouble.

Ms Smith asked that the weapon be destroyed and Mr. Greaves complied with the Crown's request.

A teen thief was fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $200 in damages yesterday in Magistrates' Court for stealing a motorcycle.

Devin Smith, 17, of Sea Express Lane, Southampton pleaded guilty before Acting Senior Magistrate Carlisle Greaves to stealing the bike from Astwood Park on August 27.

Crown counsel Charmaine Smith told the court that the bike was recovered from another individual who had an accident while riding it at Spring Hill in Warwick. Police interviews with that person led them to Smith. Mr. Greaves fined the youth $1,000, noting that it was his first offence. He also ordered that Smith pay $200 in damages incurred to the vehicle in the accident.