A local charity unknowingly aided a St. David's man in his gambling habit for several months.

Forty-seven-year-old Milton Foggo openly sobbed in Magistrates' Court when he could not explain why he had swindled the Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association to the tune of $10,000.

Foggo, of Texas Road, was sentenced to nine months in prison after he readily admitted 16 counts of cheque fraud and asked that 51 other counts also be taken into consideration. The court heard that in total he raked in $10,400 for himself by forging and uttering cheques he stole. The freeloading spree took place between February 22 and April 30 this year. When finally discovered on August 23, Foggo revealed he had bought a brand new Peugeot motorcycle valued at $2,934, grocery items, clothing and supported his gambling habit.

Prosecutor Veronica Daley explained that Foggo stole the cheques from the home of Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association president, Willard Fox. Mr. Fox, she said, had employed Foggo to carry out some light housekeeping duties at his Summerhaven residence in Smith's Parish.

Mrs. Daley said the theft came to light when Mr. Fox in August was "perusing the records'' of the Association and discovered several returned cheques with signatures he did not recognise. He alerted Police that the cheques had been made payable to several fictitious people.

Police arrested Foggo on August 23 at St. David's Cricket Club and, according to Mrs. Daley, he confessed the following day.

Police attended Foggo's home and seized clothing worth $160.

In his defence, Foggo told Senior Magistrate Will Francis: "I'm sorry for what I've done.'' But when asked why he carried out the crime, he began to shake and sob and said: "I don't know. I'm supposed to start a job today and then I'll pay that thing back.'' Mr. Francis handed down a nine-month prison sentence on each of the counts.

The sentences are to run concurrently.