A Lurgan man who failed to complete his 150 hours of community service has been sentenced to two months in prison.
Court heard the 36-year-old was given the order in December 2016 for stealing four fragrance bottles in that same month.
Robert Tomasz Adamiec, of Queens Place, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ on Wednesday for a breach of a community-based order.
It was heard that the defendant completed just 38 and a half of the 150 hours which he had been sentenced to.
Defence solicitor Richard Monteith stated: “This is a clear case for being revoked because of illness”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly disagreed saying she had told Adamiec that if for some reason he could not complete the order he was to contact probation or his solicitor.
Mr Monteith explained the defendant’s medical issue was a hernia for which he had gone for a review in October 2017.
He informed the court Adamiec had been off work for the period of June, July and August of 2018 and only recently returned to employment.
It was heard the defendant had two children with him in this jurisdiction along with his wife to provide for.
The solicitor added that Adamiec had one blemish on his record from the end of 2016 in all his time in this country.
Mr Monteith asked that the judge place a suspended sentence over the defendant’s head to “bring home the enormity of the situation without immediate custody”.
Judge Kelly stated: “If we do not use community-based orders we will lose them, I told you what would happen if you did not complete it”.
She added: “This is exactly the problem people think that they can get away with not doing these orders.”
Adamiec’s community service was revoked and he was sentenced to two months in prison.
The defendant was then released on his own bail of £250, as he wished to appeal the decision.
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