A Co Armagh teenager who stole a bottle of vodka in order to ‘top up’ his alcohol intake has been jailed for a month.
Nathan Amor, of Queen Street in Lurgan, appeared at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday via video link from Hydebank, when he admitted theft.
The incident occurred on November 2 of last year, when police were called to a Lidl store in Lurgan from a staff member.
He told officers that two males had attempted to steal a bottle of vodka, priced at £14.50, from the shop.
The court heard how the employee followed the men outside and retrieved the alcohol before they ran off.
CCTV footage showed the two men attempt to remove the security tag from the bottle before setting it back on its shelf.
It also showed them return for the vodka with one of the two putting it up their jacket before leaving the store.
Amor was identified as one of the two and was subsequently arrested on April 4.
Court heard that during interview the defendant made no comment.
Defence barrister Conor Lunny said Amor had been sentenced to two months in prison last week at Belfast’s Laganside court on a possession charge.
He added that Hydebank would be Amor’s “destination for the foreseeable future” when referring to ongoing cases.
Mr Lunny asked that credit be given to the defendant for his early plea.
The barrister said that on this occasion “drink had already been taken and this theft was a case of topping up”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly told Amor: “Given your record and the nature of this offence you have left me with no choice but to deem this so serious there is only one penalty I can impose.”
The defendant was sentenced to serve one month in prison to run concurrently to any he was already serving.
