By Rasbert Turner, STAR Writer

A man who conned several women of more than $2 million by telling them he could provide them with work was sentenced to 18 months at hard labour on fraud charges.

Mark Robinson, 35-year-old labourer of Old Harbour, St. Catherine, received the sentence when he appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Robinson was charged with obtaining money by means of false pretence after he swindled $2.3 million from unsuspecting women.

The court learnt that between March and November 2006, Robinson targeted several women, telling them he owned a security company and needed workers. He reportedly collected $2,000 from each of the women.

According to Det. Sgt. Dale Peart, Robinson told the women he needed money for training and to buy uniform and equipment. He was being sought by the police for a long time, but was caught when he assaulted a woman and was arrested under the name Damion McCormack.

He was sentenced to 18 months at hard labour for obtaining money, and fined $10,000 or six months for breaching the security regulation.

He was not represented when he appeared in court.