Jacqueline Thompson, who borrowed a baby whom she used to get cash from her boyfriend, was put on 18 months probation when she appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown handed down his sentence after he reprimanded the accused. "You're a wicked woman ... You mek the man believe is his child and even when dem catch yuh, yuh still telling lies. You deserve to go to prison," he told the accused.

Thompson and the complainant, Nadine Appleby, were initially both charged with conspiracy, while Thompson was charged with child stealing.

It was alleged that Appleby and Thompson hatched a plan, involving the use of Appleby's one-year-old son. Thompson had reportedly lost her child and the two agreed that she would pretend that Appleby's son belongd to her, so she could get money from her child's father.

It is alleged that Thompson took the child from Appleby and failed to return him. Appleby reportedly called the police and reported the child missing. The plot was discovered when the police began their investigations.

Thompson eventually confessed to the whereabouts of the child and the police went and collected him. The man, who thought he was the father, later discovered the scam at one of the court hearings, when the judge ordered Thompson to tell him the truth.