A man who stole a £17 bottle of vodka from an Armagh city centre store has been sentenced to one month in prison.
The 22-year-old’s barrister told court: “At the time he was living in hostel accommodation but in more recent times he has found a more settled address with his friend/partner.”
Lee Knox, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a single charge of theft at the city’s Magistrates’, sitting at Newry, on Tuesday via videolink from Maghaberry.
Prosecution outlined that on February 25, the defendant was observed putting a bottle of vodka, valued at £17, into his jacket pocket at Eurospar in Armagh.
He then proceeded to leave without making an attempt to pay. The court was informed the alcohol was recovered and fit for resale.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson told court that his client was in breach of a live suspended sentence for charges of actual bodily harm and theft, which was issued on January 10, 2018.
He stated: “On that occasion he stole alcohol, I believe it was in Rushmere. Whilst running away he banged into a security guard knocking him over and he was left with quite a serious shoulder injury.”
Mr Thompson also outlined that Knox was a serving prisoner, due to be released in three weeks, having recently been handed a custodial sentence.
He added: “At the time he was living in hostel accommodation but in more recent times he has found a more settled address with his friend.”
District Judge Eamonn King sentenced the defendant to a period of one month in prison but made no order on the suspended sentences.
