Man to pay £5 a week

North Antrim Magistrates Court in Coleraine was told on Friday that 36-year-old Stephen McMullan of Mayo Drive had already paid back around 800 but still owes 494.

A defence lawyer said his client was paying back the money but then broke his ankle which caused a difficulty.

District Judge Richard Wilson said McMullan had made reasonable efforts to pay the back the money and agreed to him paying back a fiver a week.

But Mr Wilson said McMullan had to understand what happens if he defaults on payments.

Mr Wilson said in such cases people should get ahead by 5 or 10 on payments “so that if something disastrous happens they are not lifted.”