MONTEGO BAY, St James – A Mandeville man who said he was tricked by another man when he was caught by police breaking into a house at the upscale Racquet Club complex in Montego Bay last week, was offered bail when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates Court.

Michael Clarke of Waltham, Mandeville was caught by police removing furniture from the apartment and was held and charged with house breaking with intent.

Clarke told the court he was running afoul of the law for the first time after being raised as a law-abiding Seventh Day Adventist. He said he had come to Montego Bay in the hope of finding a job and after failing at that, took up on offer from a man he met at a bar, for a place to stay for the night.

He said he went back to the apartment where the man used a key to gain access. The next morning, Clarke said, the man told him that the place belonged to his father who lived overseas and that he was selling some of the things in there and needed help.

The man however fled when the police came, leaving Clarke.

Clarke was offered bail in the sum of $50,000 with one or two sureties and he is to return to court on October 1.