Magistrate Ann McLennan on Wednesday remanded Brazilian Antonio Francis to prison after he failed to pay a $65,000 fine for simple larceny.

Francis reportedly stole an LG cellular phone valued $38,000 from Ingrid Williams on Saturday, near Rockstone.

On Wednesday, Francis, 37, told the Christianburg Magistrates’ Court that he never intended to commit the act. He said the phone had been charging at a Guest House where he had been staying and he used it to call an associate. He said he then left the premises with the phone to meet a woman but he never intended to withhold the device from the owner.

According to Francis, upon meeting the woman he gave her the phone and it was during this time that the police arrested him. He assured the court that the woman had the phone and that he will return it to the owner. The man also told the court that he committed the act while under the influence of alcohol.

Magistrate McLennan handed down the fine or an alternative of 18 months imprisonment. Francis was unable to meet the fine and was therefore sent to prison.