A MAN who owed almost £2,000 in court fines had the debt written off and was detained in the court house instead.

Jake Butler, 36, of Ivythorn Road, Street, also appeared at Taunton Magistrates' Court for stealing bedding valued at £116.91 from Bargain Buys, in Taunton.

He pleaded guilty and was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a £22 victim surcharge.

PATRICK Hamilton Rowllings, 56, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

He was detained in the courthouse for the crime committed in Weston-super-Mare on April 23 this year.

DAVID Brown, 57, of Church Street, Highbridge, admitted damaging a bed, chair and electrical items belonging to Somerset Partnership NHS Trust in Taunton.

He was ordered to pay £50 compensation.

JONATHAN Fairfax, 50, c/o Queen's Road, Bridgwater, was conditionally discharged for 12 months after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly in the town on March 29.

He was ordered to pay a £22 victim surcharge and £85 costs.