A Jamaican Man was sentenced to prison in Antigua for swindling more than $3,000 from two businesses while on vacation in Antigua.

According to a report in the Antigua Observer, 29-year-old Steve Reid was sentenced to two months and six months concurrently on two counts of larceny.

Information reaching THE STAR is that Reid who arrived in Antigua on July 4, admitted that on July 21, he went to Auto Hub in Herberts and requested the cashier charge US $400 to Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollars with which he intended to purchase tyres.

The cashier reportedly gave him $1,360. Following this he said he was no longer interested in the purchase and requested his money back saying he could get a better rate at the bank.

At the close of business when the cashier checked off the cash, she realised Reid had given her $300 less than she had given him.

A police report was made and Reid was detained days later.

However, by the time he was arrested on August 11, he had perpetrated a similar scheme at another establishment.

The court heard that Reid who had been to Antigua on at least four other occasions went to a Fort Road wholesaler on August 5 about 2:20 p.m., and asked the price of three cases of Coke and one case of water. While the cashier was writing up the bill the defendant asked the employee to change US$1,100 to EC dollars, he was informed that the exchange rate was EC$2.65 to US$1.

Reid handed over the money and received $2,915. He again told the cashier that he no longer wished to have the EC dollars and that he wanted back his US dollars.

The money was returned but before leaving the building he returned to the cashier and said he would accept the exchange rate and handed the cashier the stack of money, wrapped with a US$50 bill. Thinking it was the same transaction as previous, the cashier took the money without counting it and the accused left the premises.

The court heard that Reid handed the cashier a US$50 bill and 15- US$1 bills for the $2,915. Subse-quently the matter was reported to the police.