A man who pleaded guilty to swindling $29,000 from another in exchange for a Canadian work permit, in addition to stealing his cellular phone, was this week sentenced to three years behind bars.

Everton Booth was sentenced after pleading guilty in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate’s Court to charges of larceny by trick and obtaining money by means of false pretence.

His co-accused Sharon Reid was remanded after entering a plea of not guilty to conspiracy and obtaining money by means of false pretence charges.

Both are to return to court on Friday by which time they are expected to be slapped with additional charges.

The court heard that Booth contacted the complainant purporting that he was an employee of the Ministry of Labour and that he could provide a work permit to Canada for the complainant at a cost of $29,000.

The court was told that after the money was paid over, Booth borrowed the complainant’s cellular phone, valuing $6,000, to make a call and sped off in a motorcar that Reid reportedly drove.

Booth, who was convicted twice in the past for similar offences, told the court that he would take the opportunity to turn his life around.

He was subsequently sentenced by Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey.

— Paul Henry