A 26-YEAR-OLD man attached a strong magnet to the meter in his house so he could cut down the cost of electricity to one pence per day for around five weeks last year, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Dean Anthony Gillen, of Millhill Road, Newtownbutler, pleaded guilty to dishonestly using without due authority a quantity of electricity at an address in Sallys Wood, Irvinestown between October 1 and November 12 last year.

Gillen also pleaded guilty to a further charge of possessing a Class C controlled drug, namely cannabis, on November 11 last year.

The court heard that, at 2.45pm on November 11, 2014, police conducted a search of a property in Sallys Wood, which was the home of the defendant at the time.

A small bag of suspected herbal cannabis was found in the living room. Officers also discovered that a strong magnet had been attached to the electricity meter.

The defendant was conveyed to Enniskillen custody suite. During interview he admitted that the small bag contained herbal cannabis.

He told police that he had bought it on the previous night for £10 from a friend, but refused to say whom.

Gillen also revealed that he had attached the magnet to the meter around five weeks’ previously to cut down on the cost of using electricity to one pence per day.

A total of £278.16 was owed to Budget Energy, the court heard.

Defending solicitor, Emer Cox, told the court that her client did have a relevant record, but added that these offences had occurred 12 months ago and he had not come to the adverse attention of the police since.

The solicitor said that Gillen was now drug and alcohol free, in a steady and stable relationship and had moved into a new area.

In mitigation, Ms Cox said that the defendant was entitled to maximum credit as he had fully cooperated with the police and made an early admission to the offences.

The solicitor added that her client was anxious to leave the criminal justice system behind and get on with his life.

District judge Nigel Broderick observed that the defendant had “quite a poor” record, but told the court that, not without some hesitation, he would suspend the sentence.

Addressing Gillen directly, the judge said this was his “last warning”.

Mr Broderick imposed concurrent six-month prison terms, which he then suspended for 12 months, and also ordered the defendant to pay £278.16 compensation.

Meanwhile, the judge also re-activated another three-month suspended sentence that was hanging over the defendant in connection with another matter for a further 12 months.