Tinder user allegedly steals thousands from two women

A man who allegedly stole cash, electronic devices and a passport from two women he met on a dating site was on Monday remanded when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Demoy Pennington is charged with two counts of larceny by trick. He has not yet entered a plea. The court heard that one of the complainants was on Tinder where she met the accused.

The two decided to meet in person on January 15 at Clock Tower Plaza, St Andrew. Afterwards, they drove to Stony Hill and stopped at a convenience store, as Pennington told the complainant that he was thirsty and asked her to buy a bottle of water for him. The complainant exited the vehicle and went into the store, leaving her handbag on the back seat, containing $12,000 in cash, her National Insurance Scheme card, Taxpayer Registration Number card, her passport containing her US visa, banking cards, driver's licence and three cellular phones valued at $87,000. After returning from the store, she realised that Pennington had left.

It was further disclosed to the court that the allegations were similar for the incident involving the other complainant. The other complainant said she lost US$1,000, a pair of eyeglasses valued at $50,000, a cellular phone, a laptop and $57,000 in cash.

repeat offender

Pennington is represented by attorney-at-law Nicolette Hamilton, who informed Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague that she intends to make a bail application. However, investigators are opposed to bail being offered to the accused as he is a repeat offender and the complainant feels threatened.

The judge queried from Pennington if he had any previous convictions. He admitted that he was sentenced in 2012 to five years' imprisonment at hard labour for robbery with aggravation.

Pennington was made the subject of a fingerprint order and the judge requested that his criminal records be made available for the next court date. He was remanded in custody until March 31 when the matter is set to be mentioned. At that time, a bail application is to be heard.