A sheriff has ordered a former personal assistant of JK Rowling to repay £18,734 to the Harry Potter author after ruling she had obtained the money fraudulently.

JK Rowling sought damages against Amanda Donaldson in a civil case brought under the author's married name Joanne Murray.

In a written determination issued after the case was heard at Airdrie Sheriff Court, Sheriff Derek O'Carroll found that during her employment Ms Donaldson obtained £18,734 through fraud.

He said she is now liable to repay the full amount with interest to her former employer.

Following the ruling, a spokesperson for the author said: "JK Rowling is pleased that Sheriff O'Carroll has ruled that her former PA Amanda Donaldson must repay the money she fraudulently misappropriated from Ms Rowling.

"From the outset Ms Rowling made it clear that the decision to take this matter to court was a last resort and not for her personal benefit, but rather to protect the reputation of her existing staff, and to make sure Ms Donaldson is not in a position to breach the trust of another employer.

"Terms of the recovery will be decided in due course, and the money owed will be donated to JK Rowling's charity Lumos."