MAGISTRATES have wiped £400 of court fines off a man's debts.

Christopher Fothergill, 21, of Chatsworth Terrace, Darlington, owed the courts £915, but after appearing at Darlington Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, for breaching his community rehabilitation order, he now owes slightly over £500.

The court heard he had failed to attend meetings required for his six month rehabilitation order in August, November and December. He had also fallen into arrears in debt payments. Magistrates cut his debts to make the fines more affordable.