Jail term for Lisburn man who stole from Poundland and Iceland
A Lisburn man has been sentenced to four months in prison after stealing from shops in the city centre.
Gavan Smyth, aged 29, whose address was given as Woodside in Lisburn, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court via videolink from Magilligan Prison, charged with two counts of theft.
The court heard that on December 17, 2025 the police received a report from Citywatch, which operates CCTV cameras in Lisburn city centre, that a male had been detained for shoplifting from Poundland in Bow Street Mall.
Staff from Poundland reported that the defendant had been seen placing items into a bag and leaving the store without paying.
It was stated that the goods stolen were valued at £34.50.
The male was identified as the defendant. He was arrested and a search carried out, which found him in possession of an Iceland bag.
Further enquiries were carried out and it was discovered that the defendant had also stolen items from Iceland in Bow Street, valued at £33.75.
The defendant made no comment during police interview.
A defence lawyer told the court the defendant was currently serving a sentence in Magilligan Prison and was due to be released on May 12, 2026.
He asked the judge to impose a sentence which would not interfere too much with the release date.
Defence added that the offence was “towards the lower end of the scale”.
District Judge Rosie Watters sentenced the defendant to four months in prison on each of the two charges.
Ms Watters granted the defence leave to appeal the sentence.