A man who stole almost £1,000 of alcohol in eight incidents at Asda in Portadown has received a suspended prison term.
Robert Turkiss, of Mourneview Street in Portadown, was sentenced at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court where he had the assistance of an interpreter.
A defence barrister said the 44-year-old is from Latvia and has lived here for six years and works night shifts in a local factory.
However, at the time of the offences last year he had fallen on “hard times” and began associating with a group of “heavy drinkers”.
Deputy District Judge Gerard Trainor said the thefts had been “brazen” and had brought the defendant to the “door of the prison”.
The defendant was given a three months prison term, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay restitution of £978.
