A man has been handed a prison sentence after stealing over €300 worth of clothes from the Next store in Letterkenny.
Jimmy Ward was jailed for two months for the incident at Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny, on November 25, 2022.
Ward appeared via video link at Letterkenny District Court.
The 34-year-old, with an address at Donegal Road, Ballyshannon, was charged with stealing clothes, the property of Next. The charge is contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.
Sergeant Gerard Dalton told the court that the accused man, along with a co-accused, entered the premises and removed a number of items of clothing.
The bundle of clothes, with a total value of €320, were still on hangers. On CCTV footage, gardai saw Ward ‘walk swiftly’ towards a parked Peugeot van. Some of the items were discarded as Ward quickened his step.
Gardai were able to identify Ward on the footage.
The court heard that Ward has ‘numerous’ previous convictions.
Ward’s solicitor, Mr Rory O’Brien, said his client has been in custody for what he called a ‘considerable period’.
Mr O’Brien explained that Ward grew up in very difficult circumstances and was involved with ‘various sources’ before becoming addicted to drink, drugs and shoplifting.
“This all occurred in a crescendo where he was addicted to heroin,” Mr O’Brien said. “This was a very concerting period. He has now dealt with this matter.”
He said Ward has been in prison for the best part of a year and Ward is due for release on February 23.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham sentenced Ward to two months in prison and back-dated the sentence to October 2023.