Joan Maye, of Liscreevin Road, Drumshane in Lisnarick, pleaded guilty to dishonestly using without due authority a quantity of electricity at her address on 9th March this year. 

The court heard that, at 1.05pm on the date in question, officials from Northern Ireland Electricity called to the property and discovered that a magnet had been attached to the electricity meter which was located on a wall inside the garage.

The defendant was conveyed to Enniskillen Police Station. During interview she admitted that she had attached the magnet to the meter after purchasing it when a friend advised to do so as a way of saving money. 

Defending solicitor, Michael Fahy, told the court that his client fully accepted the facts of the case, which he said was swiftly followed by an apology. 

“What she did was wrong, which she admitted in her interview with police. She unequivocally accepts her guilt,” he added. Mr Fahy noted that his client’s last record of offending was 18 years ago.   

The court that the defendant had since been reimbursing NIE on a weekly basis. 

Deputy District Judge Peter King observed that it was “regrettable” that the defendant had a number of previous convictions for dishonesty on her record. He also noted her relapse into this behaviour of two decades ago.  

Mr King imposed a six-month prison term, which he then suspended for 12 months.