GREGORY Roberts was yesterday fined $15,000, with the alternative of three months imprisonment, for simple larceny.

He pleaded guilty to the offence before Magistrate Fazil Azeez, admitting that, on December 12, he stole two packs of anchor cheese, valued $725, from Forgarty’s Supermarket.

The shoplifter told the Court that he committed the crime because he was hungry.

The magistrate pointed out, to him, that the amount of the fine could have bought a lot of cheese.

Another man who stole from a business place, Ivor St. Hill (no address given either) was fined $25,000, with the alternative of six months imprisonment.

He, too, pleaded guilty in the same Court.

Particulars of his offence said, on December 13, he stole seven pieces of pipe, valued $14,686, from National Hardware, also in Water Street, Georgetown.

The Prosecutor said St. Hill walked into the store and picked up the merchandise, with which he was arrested.