Boozy burglar helped himself in rugby club bar

Aaron Joseph Gordon (34), of Antrim Road, Belfast, was sentenced to eight months in prison after admitting entering the club and stealing beer on June 18.

The court was told that his co-accused Tamara Mackle (24), of Staffordstown Road, Toome was caught walking away from the club drinking a tin of Carlsberg.

The pair were charged with burglary on June 18.

Antrim Magistrates Court heard that on that date both entered the property and consumed a quantity of beer.

At a previous court hearing it was said that members of the club arrived on the premises to begin training and found Gordon “relaxing” with his feet up on the sofa in the main hall of the property.

Mackle was seen leaving the property drinking a can of the stolen beer.

A pre-sentence report was provided to the court and a defending solicitor highlighted how in that report it notes that Mackle is “easily” led.

Defence said that Mackle made full admissions: “She does have an appalling record and a relevant record for dishonesty.”

District Judge Alan White imposed a five month sentence on Mackle and an eight-month sentence on Gordon,

Meanwhile, Gordon was sentenced to eight months in prison for a criminal damage charge on an unrelated matter.

Gordon admitted damaging a car on October 20, causing damage to the vehicle’s driver and passenger windows and steering column.

He was sentenced to eight months in prison for attempting to take the vehicle without the owner’s permission, with the sentence to run concurrently with the sentence for the burglary matter.

A previous court hearing had heard that on October 20, a report had been received of someone trying to steal a car parked outside a house on the Oriel Road.

The vehicle’s window had been smashed and the steering column damaged.

The court heard that blood found in the vehicle matched Gordon’s DNA and police arrested the defendant.

A further charge of burglary was withdrawn by the prosecution service.