A 36-YEAR-OLD businessman has been given a conditional discharge for fraudulently cashing a cheque.

Jamal Rezzougui, of Gilkes Yard, was owner of Fine Drinks Ltd when he wrote and cashed an £850 cheque from the company account at Cash Converters in Banbury in September 2007. However the funds had not cleared in the business account to cover this cheque.

He was cautioned, but failed to repay the money.

Yesterday, Oxford Crown Court heard Rezzougui, who has since repaid the cash, could not undertake a community punishment due to childcare arrangements.

Rezzougui, who has 19 previous convictions for 48 offences from before he was 25, was given a two-year conditional discharge and told to pay £1,200 costs.