A JUDGE lifted a curfew on a man accused of burglary, theft and fraud – so he could celebrate his 35th birthday.

Nathan Payne had been told by magistrates he had to be inside from midday to 9am the following day when they granted him bail.

But when he appeared before Judge Douglas Field at Swindon Crown Court his barrister asked for the restriction to be lifted on his birthday.

Anna Midgley, defending, told the court said: “Family members were hoping to have a party with him.

“On that basis I wonder if your honour would vary his curfew to allow him something of an evening celebration?”

The judge agreed to the request and lifted the curfew for the day of his birthday but said it must return afterwards.

Payne was appearing at Swindon Crown Court facing a series of allegations relating to incidents which are said to have taken place on the same day.

It is said that, with others, he took part in a burglary at a house on The Ridge, Blunsdon, on September 20, where a wallet and a number of credit cards were taken.

He is then said to have tried to use a card without permission on three occasions, two of which were at Tesco, later that day.

Finally he and others are said to have stolen £1,000 from the HSBC bank in three transactions.

Payne, of Bath Road, Old Town, pleaded not guilty to burglary, three counts of fraud and three of theft.

The judge adjourned the case to Wednesday, April 6, when Payne is due to face trial and released him on conditional bail.

Apart from his birthday he has to observe an 18-hour curfew.

As part of his bail conditions he is banned from entering Blunsdon village.