KINGSTON, Jamaica — A conman who disappeared after borrowing a cellular phone to make a call was sentenced to nine months behind bars when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Repeat offender Devon Smith pleaded guilty to larceny by trick.

Allegations are that on May 29 approximately 1:30 pm, the accused man borrowed the complainant’s blackberry cellular phone to make a call but went away with it.

It is alleged that on June 4, the accused man was seen in South Parade by the complainant who held on to him and brought him to the City Centre Police Station.

“How many times you get in trouble?” Senior Magistrate Judith Pusey asked.

“Bout three times,” Smith replied.

“For something else?” Pusey quizzed.

The accused man told the court that he also went to court for larceny and rape.

“When were you released?” she asked.

“Since year,” he said.

“You and I know that it is not just three times,” said Pusey.

He was subsequently sentenced to nine months.

Racquel Porter