A man who got a woman he met in church to hand over her jewellery valued at more than $500,000 to him after convincing her that the items were possessed with evil spirits, pleaded guilty in court yesterday.

Lenworth Moses of Retirement Road, St Andrew, appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.

Moses is charged with larceny by trick and was remanded until November 17 for sentencing.

During his appearance in court, Moses at first vehemently denied the allegations and maintained his innocence. However, he later changed his mind and pleaded guilty with explanation.

His antecedents were requested by the court before his sentence date and it was ordered that he submit his fingerprints to the police.

The complainant told the court that she met the accused in church after he approached her 'out of the blue', and began to tell her things about herself that should not have been known by a total stranger.

She said she became persuaded that the defendant meant her good as all the things he revealed about her private life were true.

According to her, the defendant later asked if she owned any jewellery and she admitted to owning several valuables.

Subsequently, he is said to have mentioned to her that her jewellery possessed evil spirits and were plaguing her life.He is alleged to have told her to hand over the valuables to him so he could rid them of their nefarious influence and grant her deliverance.

Additionally, it is alleged that he told her that he would pray over them but after he did not return the jewellery the complainant became suspicious.

The defendant later told the complainant that he had discarded of the items into the sea.

Because of how convincing the defendant was, the complainant is alleged to have entrusted him with five gold chains valued at $200,000, three pendants valued at $50,000, two bracelets valued at $40,000, seven earrings valued at $50,000, four rings valued at $30,000 and four gold bangles valued at $250,000.