Court reports were ordered on a man who yesterday admitted 16 dishonesty offences which took place since November.

Colin Landy Smith, 51, pleaded guilty in Magistrates’ Court to a raft of charges related to a series of stolen cheques.

The court heard that the cheques, belonging to Clement Lespere, were taken from Mr Lespere’s carpentry shop on an unknown date.

The theft was not noticed until his daughter, who shared Mr Lespere’s Bank of Butterfield account, was informed that the account had been overdrawn.

She was informed by the bank that between November 30 last year and January 4, a series of seven cheques valued at a total of $4,500 had been cashed by Smith at the MoneyShop in Warwick.

As a result, she contacted the MoneyShop about the situation and urged them to contact the police if Smith attempted to cash any further cheques from her father’s account.

On January 13, Smith attended the MoneyShop and attempted to cash a $600 cheque from Mr Lespere’s account using his passport as identification. The clerk recognised Smith and stalled him until police arrived at the business.

Police approached the defendant and asked if he was Colin Smith.

Smith said ‘no’ and ran out of the store, but was subsequently arrested.

On January 17, during a police interview, Smith admitted cashing five of the cheques but denied the others. However, all of the cashed cheques had been marked with his passport number.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo ordered reports on Smith, adjourning his sentencing until the reports can be completed.

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