Bayville man remanded over visitor’s cards

A Bayville man was remanded until September 7 after admitting to dishonestly using a visitor’s debit and credit cards to buy food, rum, cigarettes and other items.

Rico Darrin Harte, 32, of Old Quarry Road, St Michael, admitted to obtaining food valued at $27.64 from Bar Cutters by deception, by falsely representing that he was in lawful possession of a MasterCard credit card in Gerid Vandercruz’s name and that he was authorised to use the said credit card.

He also pleaded guilty to dishonestly obtaining from Sol Banyans service station a bottle of rum, a tonic, a bag of peanuts and toilet paper valued at $35.24, and a pack of cigarettes valued at $9.65, by falsely representing that he was in lawful possession of a PMC Visa debit card in Vandercruz’s name and that he was authorised to use the debit card.

However, he denied stealing a passport valued at US$165 (BDS 332.43), three drivers licences valued at US$60 (BDS$120.88), five debit cards valued at US$50 (BDS$100.74), two credit cards valued at US$20 (BDS$40.29), a wallet valued at $40 and US$40 (BDS$80.59), total value of $714.99  belonging to Vandercruz on August 4.

Sergeant Reginald Blackman objected to bail, citing that there was“strong, unequivocal, cogent and compelling” evidence against the accused. He noted that Harte was captured on CCTV making the purchases. Blackman added that the complainant was a visitor and stressed the importance of protecting such individuals and the rest of society from these offences.

Denying bail, Acting Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick remanded Harte until September 7, pending sentencing on the criminal deception offences.

(JB)