Woman buys false hair with man’s debit card

A beauty therapist, who spent more than $100,000 on hair and swimsuits, had to make restitution when she appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

Charged with simple larceny is 25-year-old Rachel Bell. She has pleaded not guilty.

The allegations are that on October 1, the complainant, who was allegedly in an intimate relationship with Bell, gave his personal debit card to her to purchase a swimsuit to attend an event. He claimed that he instructed her not to exceed $15,000.

It is alleged that the accused purchased a swimsuit for $5,000 and made additional purchases valued at $111,000. The complainant received a notification via email and immediately contacted Bell and told her to cancel the transactions.

The court heard that Bell had promised to repay the complainant but up until yesterday, the funds were not forthcoming.

But Bell's attorney, Daniel Gyles, told the court that the matter was one of malice. He also said that contrary to the information before the court, Bell and the complainant were never in a relationship.

"The complainant invited my client to an event. She indicated that she would not be able to attend at which point the complainant requested that my client come and collect his debit card. She visited the complainant and she did collect the card. There is evidence in my possession that I could share with the clerk as I am of the belief that this matter should not have been here," Gyles told Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague.

Bell repaid $111,000 to the complainant in court and was made the subject of a stop order. A fingerprint order was also made. She is expected to return to court on February 7, 2022.

- T.T.