A St Catherine-based welder who collected $55,000 from a woman and failed to deliver grillwork that she ordered was remanded in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

He is Richard Lewin, 44-year-old of Eltham Park St Catherine.

When Lewin appeared before Resident Magistrate Marcia Dunbar-Green, he pleaded guilty to fraudulent conversion.

"Your Honour, I did get the money from her, but mi used it to buy material fi do di work but the man den wah mi used to work with gone,'' Lewin said.

He told the court that when he collected the money, it was to complete the work over a two-week period. However, this did not happen.

Lewin then requested that his wife be called. When she was asked if she had the money to repay the complainant, she told the court "mi nu have no money, Mi Ranna".

The complainant said that she was told by the accused on one occasion that his current had been disconnected, so he wanted more down payment.

Allegations are that on July 11 and 29 this year, the accused was given the money to do the work, which was not done. Despite several attempts to get her money back, it was not forthcoming.

The matter was reported to the police and the accused was held. He is to reappear for sentencing on December 19.