A Co Tyrone man allowed his brother to be convicted of a burglary which he had committed himself, Cookstown Magistrates' Court has been told.
The court was told that when Owen Roe Leonard (23), a welder, of Tamlaghtmore Road, Stewartstown, was arrested shortly after stealing musical instruments from the window of a Cookstown shop, he gave the name of his brother who was in the US. It was only after his brother was convicted that it came to light that defendant had committed the burglary.
At yesterday's court Leonard was given a three-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to the burglary and obstructing the police in their investigations.
Ms Carmel O'Meara, defending Leonard, said he had paid the compensation for the replacement of the window which was broken. She said due to drink Leonard had foolishly given his brother's name after his arrest.