Lisburn man stole an iPhone from shelf in Eurospar store
A man in his 60s who stole a mobile phone has been given a suspended prison sentence by a Lisburn judge.
He appeared before Lisburn Magistrates Court on Thursday, August 13, 2026, charged with theft.
The court heard that on November 10, 2025 at 1.30pm, police responded to a report of a theft of an iPhone at Eurospar on the Hillsborough Road in Lisburn.
Officer spoke to a staff member and it was reported that a male entered the store at 9.50am and approached the self service till.
There was an iPhone on a shelf and he was seen lifting it and putting it into his pocket.
Police traced the vehicle used by the defendant, Paul Anthony William Neill (63), whose address was given as Woodland Park in Lisburn, and a search was carried out at his home.
He was arrested and made no comment during interview.
Defence told the court the 63-year-old defendant had “pleaded guilty at the first opportunity”.
He continued: “He has very little recollection of the offence.”
During sentencing, District Judge Rosie Watters said: “I find it strange that someone would steal an iPhone and not remember doing it or what he did with it.”
Ms Watters noted that the defendant had a previous record which included offences of theft, burglary, and handling stolen goods, but that the offences were mostly committed in the 1980s, with his last conviction being in 1997.
Ms Watters told the defendant he would have to pay £800 in restitution to the owner of the phone.
She also imposed a custodial sentence of three months, suspended for 12 months.