A 38-year-old Northern Ireland man who claimed he was dead has appeared in court charged with trying to defraud his mother of £1,000 to offset his own funeral expenses.

Wai Hung Lo, whose address was given as Northland Road in Londonderry, is alleged to have committed the offence on November 17 of last year.

He is charged with fraud by false representation by assuming the identity of a friend and writing a letter in his friend's name to his own mother claiming that he himself was dead and asking his mother for £1,000 to help pay for his own funeral expenses.

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told District Judge Barney McElholm that the case “is somewhat unusual”.

The case was adjourned “for disposal” until February 29 and the defendant was released on continuing bail.

As part of his bail conditions he was ordered not to have any direct or indirect contact with either his mother or his friend.