A man has admitted having his neighbour’s van towed away for scrap and accepting money for it.

Graham Peter Skillicorn, of Cushag Road, Anagh Coar, pleaded guilty to an offence of fraud by false representation after he pretended the van belonged to him.

The 60-year-old will be sentenced on November 26 after a probation report has been completed.

Prosecutor Roger Kane told the court how the complainant’s Nissan van had been parked outside his home in Cushag Road between July 2018 and August 2019 with moving.

On August 9, the complainant’s wife told him that his van was on a tow truck outside but by the time he went out the van had been taken away.

He contacted numerous businesses to try to find out which company had towed it but was then told by another neighbour that it had been taken Northern Scrap Metals.

The complainant informed the police and the company said they had been contacted by a man named ’Graham’ who arranged for the van to be towed.

The company paid Skillicorn £60 and gave him a receipt.

When quizzed by police Skillicorn told them: ’I did get rid of the van cos it was an eyesore.’

During an interview he answered ’no comment’ to all further questions.

The court heard that he has numerous previous convictions.

Defence advocate Paul Rodgers asked for a probation report to be compiled before sentencing with input from mental health services.

Magistrates granted bail with conditions that Skillicorn reside at his home address and does not contact the complainant.