A man who stole almost €54,000 from the shop he worked in by awarding himself fake Lotto wins has been given a chance to repay the money to avoid going to prison.

Paul Kavanagh (25) spent the money on take-aways, taxis and cannabis his counsel said.

Judge Melanie Greally agreed to adjourn the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal court until January 13 next year in order to allow him repay €1,000 a month to the owner of the Londis shop in Dublin.

Counsel for Kavanagh, Tom Neville BL said that his client has nothing to show for the money, some of which was used to pay for his cannabis habit.

Kavanagh, of Belgard Square, Tallaght, Dublin, pleaded guilty to theft from Ray Sheehan, owner of the Londis Store on Park Gate Street between 2014 and 2015. Prosecuting counsel Marie Torrens BL said Kavanagh, a father of two, began working in the shop in 2014 and started having money troubles.

She said that he would process lottery wins through the system and then pocket the money.

The thefts came to light when the owner noticed three €150 lottery pay-outs on a day when the Lotto machine was broken.

Irish Independent