Ballymena man on mobility scooter is charged with shoplifting from supermarket on 15 days
A man on a mobility scooter allegedly stole goods from a supermarket on 15 days.
David William Coburn (65), of Brooke Park, Ballymena, is accused of shoplifting at Sainsbury's in the town on days during November and December with the amount totalling £727.
Ballymena Magistrates Court was told the defendant was stopped on December 7 attempting to steal four bottles of vodka and was given a Community Resolution Notice for that incident.
CCTV was then reviewed and, it was said, he had stolen items on 15 different days, "mostly alcohol".
Objecting to bail a police officer said the defendant said he was an alcoholic and had claimed he had no memory of the incidents. She said there was a risk of further offences "particularly in the run up to Christmas".
The court was told "the same modus operandi was used on each occasion with the defendant arriving to the shop on a mobility scooter, placing bags in a trolley, placing items, mostly alcohol, in one of the bags and then leaving the shop without offering payment".
A defence barrister said the defendant has "vulnerabilities".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said they were serious matters involving goods of significant value and "15 times he had got away with it". He said there is "too much shoplifting" which "were not victimless crimes".
The defendant was given £500 bail and is barred from entering Sainsbury's in Ballymena. He is also not to be under the influence of alcohol in public.
Adjourning the case to January 8, Judge Broderick added: "He shouldn't be on a mobility scooter drunk out shoplifting. He is lucky to get bail in the first place."