A police officer told Craigavon Magistrates’ Court a 51-year-old heroin addict from Portadown is on a “merry-go-round” of offending and going into and out of jail.
Aiden McGurgan, of no fixed abode in Potadown, is charged with stealing items worth £73 from Home Bargains and items worth £61 from Tesco at the end of May this year.
He appeared at court via video link from prison.
During a bail application, District Judge Michael Ranaghan said the “elephant in the room” is the defendant’s criminal record here and in England.
He said despite the defendant being on the PSNI’s ‘Reducing Offending Unit’ the defendant “is not alone in being unmanageable”.
Refusing bail he added: “Mr McGurgan can’t stop himself.”
The judge said there was a risk of re-offending.
The case was adjourned to June 27.
