Marcus Smith, who is charged with larceny from the person, was offered $40,000 bail and is to return to court on January 5.

The Crown is alleging that on the day of the incident,the complainant was standing close to the York Pharmacy in Half-Way-Tree with her BB smartphone in her hand.

As she was about to check an incoming message, the defendant was alleged to have ridden up on a bicycle, grabbed the phone from the woman and made a hasty retreat.

A female police officer who was attired in civilian clothing observed what had taken place and gave chase after the defendant.

He was later accosted by the female cop and escorted to the police station.

In his rebuttal, Mitchell informed the court that his client was innocent and was a scapegoat of mistaken identity.

Mitchell argued that on the day in question, his client was arriving from work at an uncustomary time because payday was late when he was accosted by the female officer and accused of a robbery which he was ignorant of.

At the same time, the defendant's employer appeared on his behalf and expressed disbelief at the allegations brought against him as "he would never do anything like that."

The defendant's wife was also present in court.