one count of stealing cheques, said he would rather go to prison than pay the $2,800 fine, issued this week in Magistrates' Court.

Dwayne Burrows, of Horseshoe Road, Southampton, asked that 27 other similar offences be considered at his sentencing.

Inspector Peter Duffy, prosecuting, said Burrows, 33, stole 13 cheques from Mrs. Velma Cooper, when he was doing odd jobs around her house in August.

His spree ended when he tried to cash a cheque which had a stop order on it, on October 5, said Insp. Duffy. He was arrested on October 15, and signed a document stating he wished to have 27 like offences taken into account.

Insp. Duffy said Burrows obtained $1,541.04 from Mrs. Cooper's cheques, and $1,210 from the other forged cheques.

The defendant is recently divorced, with one child who lives with her mother, reported Insp. Duffy. Burrows claimed he spent the money on bills and transport for his daughter, and on food and rent money for his mother, with whom he is living with.

Burrows told Senior Magistrate, the Wor. Will Francis, that he had not attempted to pay back the money, and that he had just lost his job as a construction worker again.

Mr. Francis fined him $400 for stealing the cheques, and $200 each for the other 12 counts of forgery and utterance. The alternative was six months in prison.

Burrows said Mrs. Cooper was "a nice lady, she gave me a job, and I just took advantage of her.

"I'll have to do the time,'' he said. "I'll never be able to pay.''