Seen & Heard

An alcoholic did not know he had carried out a robbery until he saw himself on a security video tape on television, Belfast Crown Court heard yesterday.

William Nixon, 36, of Disraeli Street, Belfast, immediately surrendered himself to police and admitted robbing a filling station in Carrickfergus several weeks earlier. He pleaded guilty to robbing pounds 250 from two women assistants using an imitation firearm. Terence Mooney QC, defending, said Nixon, who was jailed for two-and-a-half years, had already spent his benefit cheque on drink, and could be seen staggering during the crime. He left the shop saying "all the best" - and spent the proceeds on drink.