Christopher Owens, 32, admitted using his position in the Bangor office of Wilson Nesbitt to steal a total of £7,385.50 from September 2015 to March 2018.

He pleaded guilty to a single charge of fraud by abuse of position in Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

He has since paid back £12,000 to the firm, which the court noted was more than the amount he stole.

Judge Geoffrey Miller QC sentenced him to 10 months’ imprisonment, suspended for one year.