stealing $147.50 in goods from Trimingham's on Front Street.

Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King fined Sukanya Jaturakoon, who had just arrived on the Island prior to the offence and is staying with her Bermudian boyfriend, $150.

The court heard that Jaturakoon was arrested outside the store on June 10 after employees saw her sticking merchandise into her shopping bag after she had already purchased some items in another department of the store.

The Police found $150 cash in her purse when they searched her and found $147.50 worth of stolen clothing in her possession.

Yesterday she pleaded guilty to stealing the clothing from the store and her lawyer Elizabeth Christopher told the court that Jaturakoon was persuaded by an unidentified lady to go to Trimingham's to steal.

Ms Christopher added that her client's difficulty with speaking English, cultural confusion and natural naivete was the reason she was easily deceived.