An Armagh teenager who received stolen goods following a burglary has been given a six months probation order.
The case of Tanishea Magee, of Woodford Place, Armagh, was heard at Armagh Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Newry Courthouse on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old appeared before the court via videolink from her home and was charged with receiving stolen goods.
The stolen goods received were a TV, three cactus pods, three ornaments and £100 cash.
The court heard that on March 27, 2022 at approximately 2:30am, police were tasked to a report of a burglary at an address in Armagh. Police attended the property and, shortly after, the injured party stated that entry had been gained.
They had been out of the property and returned to find it in a state of “disarray”, noting that food was lying on the floor and the TV had been “pulled off its brackets”.
The injured party said that shortly before returning to the property, a male carrying a TV and a female carrying two bags for life had walked past them. The individuals in question were identified by police, with the female being the defendant.
Subsequently, police forced entry to an address in Armagh in which the defendant and the male were present. They were arrested and taken to Banbridge custody. A search was carried out and the stolen TV was found at this address.
A defence solicitor told the court that Magee is a “vulnerable young woman”, and that this was her first appearance in the adult court, following matters that had been dealt with in the youth court.
The defence explained that the matter had been contested on whether she was guilty of burglary, with the court ultimately accepting that she was not.
They said that the defendant, who had been expelled from school at the age of 14, has struggled to engage with psychiatric services, but was “trying her best to get back out onto the straight and narrow”.
District Judge Anne Marshall, presiding, considered that a period of probation may be a solution, saying: “This is a young lady who is absolutely crying out for support from probation.”
A representative from the Probation Board said that probation could be offered if she attends appointments, though concerns were raised as to the level to which she would engage.
District Judge Marshall then decided to make a probation order for a period of six months to help the defendant get support, adding: “I think I have a duty to try and help your rehabilitation and protect the public from further offending.”
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