Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Robert Damon Lavon Green admitted stealing the Nokia phone from Olney Bean's locked taxi on March 28 while it was parked outside Green's Guest House in Southampton.

Crown Counsel Cindy Clarke told Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that Ms Bean approached Green as he left cab number T1295 at 8.15 p.m. that day.

Green, 21, of Curving Avenue, told Ms Bean: "It must be the wrong taxi. My auntie told me to get one.'' He then showed her how he got into the cab.

She noticed the car was still locked and called the Police who later caught Green and recovered the cell phone.

Green's lawyer Michael Scott told Mr. Warner: "He was fully cooperative with Police. This was an opportunistic event and the strongest piece of mitigation was that the phone was recovered and will be returned to the complainant.

"He is gainfully employed and this took place outside his normal good judgment,'' Mr. Scott added. "We ask that the court allow him a chance to get it right.'' Mr. Warner fined Green $500 and ordered him to pay it straight away.