A man who stole two gift sets and a bag for life from Home Bargains whilst “on drugs”, by his own admission, has been handed a suspended sentence.
The 46-year-old’s barrister told court: “He is on the subutex program and he is dealing with the community addictions team.”
Pedro Queiroz, of Cathedral Road in Armagh, appeared for sentencing on one count of theft at Craigavon Magistrates’, sitting at Lisburn, on Friday via videolink from his solicitor’s office.
Prosecution outlined that on October 6, of last year, police received a report of a theft from Home Bargains in Portadown.
Officers viewed CCTV from inside the store and were able to identify the culprit as this defendant.
Queiroz took from the store a Firetrap men’s gift set, a men’s Gillette gift set and a bag for life to the value of £11.68.
On December 17, the defendant was interviewed and stated he had no recollection of the incident as he was “on drugs”.
However, after viewing the CCTV footage Queiroz accepted that it was him, he apologised for the offence and offered to pay for the items.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson stated: “At the time of the offence he had lost his employment, he was struggling financially and he was also suffering from depression which led to him misusing drugs.”
District Judge Rosie Watters commented: “I find the probation report hard to understand. He was before this court in May and this is only October for possession of Class A and B.
“That was for offences which were committed in April, yet the probation are saying that he is now off drugs.”
Mr Thompson stated: “He is on the subutex programme and he is dealing with the community addictions team. I think probation are saying there is little they can add to the work of the community addictions team.”
Queiroz was sentenced to two months in prison suspended for a period of 18 months and was ordered to pay compensation of £11.68.
