A Pembroke Dock man has been given a last chance after he admitted bouncing a cheque for £1,536.

Daniel Brookes, aged 30, of Bush Street, used the cheque to trick Ramsdens of Haverfordwest into giving him £200 cash.

Tom Scapens, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court there had been a break in at the Longhouse restaurant at the Freshwater East holiday park on October 6 last year.

Among the items stolen was a cheque book.

The following day Brookes presented a cheque for £1,536 made out to himself at the Ramsdens pawn store which he used as security for £200 in cash.

When the cheque failed to clear the store called in the police.

Mr Scapens said Brookes had had to provide proof of his identity before the store would deal with him and he was soon arrested.

Questioned by police, Brookes said he knew nothing about the burglary itself and if he did he still wouldn’t tell them anything.

He maintained the cheque had been payment for work carried out but once in court he admitted fraud.

Brookes, who had been held in custody since late October, was made the subject of a 12 month community order.

Judge Mervyn Hughes told Brookes that with his record this would be his last chance of avoiding a prison sentence.