A woman who has only ever paid a tenner of £730 in fines for watching TV without a licence has had her bill more than halved.

Medway magistrates heard bailiffs visited Rebecca Murphy, 26, to collect three years of fines - but found no possessions valuable enough to take.

She told the court: "In 2006 I was looking after the house for my mum and she should've paid it. I can't remember where I was living in 2007.

"I'm now living with my daughter. I am a single parent receiving benefits."

Stella Williams, prosecuting, said: "There were various offers to pay but no monies ever came in."

Murphy, of Palmerston Road, Chatham, had £400 wiped from the money she owes and was ordered to pay the remaining £320.

Her mother was at the back of the court as magistrate Christine Ford said: "You have been doing this for a very long time and not made much effort.

"If you don't pay this time you will be at risk of a suspended prison sentence."