A Markethill man who stole a bottle of Jack Daniels and a case of Tennents has been sentenced to one month in prison.
The district judge commented that the 31-year-old was stealing not in order to make a profit but to “feed an addiction”.
Sean Anthony Taylor, of Bunker Hill, pleaded guilty to one count of theft at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, appearing via videolink from Maghaberry.
Prosecution outlined that on February 18, the defendant made off with a bottle of Jack Daniels Whiskey and case of Tennents to the value of £29.99 from Fiveways service station, Newry.
Taylor was identified by police as being the culprit of this unsophisticated theft after CCTV was viewed.
Defence barrister Bobbie Rea stated: “This is a man with difficulties which are beyond his own control. He has been in custody for one month in relation to this offence.
“The reality is that he is not going to be released until May 20. He recently received that as part of a global entencing exercise.”
He added: “I would ask that your worship, despite his record, this was a low level theft, not to interfere with that release date.”
District Judge Peter Magill stated: “Mr Taylor, you have quite an appalling record but in a sense this has been taken out of my hands.
“You are not going to get out until May at the earliest, normally I would ask for people to pay back for what they stole but you are not in a position to do this.”
He added: “In this case, you pleaded guilty which you will get credit for. You were also not stealing to make a profit but to feed an addiction.
“This is not an excuse, but it is not as bad as stealing large value items in order to sell on, in my view.”
Taylor was sentenced to one month in prison.
