MarketPlace this week were fined when they appeared in Magistrates' Court.

Richard Michael Sean Dill, of Main Road, admitted he stuffed two bottles of vodka down his trousers on Wednesday and left the store without paying for them.

Sgt. Earl Kirby, prosecuting, said Dill paid for a bottle of beer but did not declare the vodka, valued at $17.

"What I did was out of character for me,'' the 23-year-old told Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis.

However, Mr. Francis said that with Dill's criminal history he would not describe the action as out of character, and fined him $200.

"I sent you to prison for stealing a bank bag and put you on probation in November for stealing a bottle of Smirnoff vodka,'' he said. "You've stolen liquor before . .. I wouldn't say it's out of character. You should be trying to change your character.'' Meanwhile, Richard Lima, of Middle Road, pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of whisky and a bottle of rum from the same store on Tuesday.

Sgt. Kirby said Police attended the store at 6.40 p.m. in response to a panic alarm.

Lima, 27, had paid for a can of Vienna sausages but had not paid for the alcohol, valued at $49.40.

He was caught as he left the store and admitted the offence.

"It was a stupid thing to do and I feel embarrassed to be here,'' he told officers. "It will never happen again.'' Lima told Mr. Francis that he was intoxicated at the time of the offence.

"I'm sorry for my actions. I didn't know what I was doing at the time.'' Mr.

Francis fined him $120.