Men stole copper piping and wiring from derelict leisure centre in Portadown due to 'severe financial hardship', Craigavon court hears

The pair appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court after being caught outside Cascades Leisure Centre.

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Miguel Martins, aged 50, from Westland Road, Portadown pleaded guilty to theft, going equipped for theft and using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

David Costa, aged 25, of Annaghdale Place, Portadown pleaded guilty to theft and going equipped for theft.

The court heard a resident saw three men on his CCTV camera coming from an alleyway at 1am at Clonavon Avenue near the leisure centre on May 15, 2026.

"They were using torches. They were lifting cables to a vehicle which was parked in the alleyway,” said the prosecutor.

Police spotted a Honda Civic pull out from the alley. Once they spotted police, the vehicle stopped and Costa ran off towards the leisure centre. He was detained after a police chase.

Police found multiple tools, batteries, lights, gloves and cutting equipment in the car. They also found wires, copper piping and cables, the court heard.

Martins told police at the scene the items had been taken from the leisure centre without permission and Costa also admitted theft.

A third person was also arrested but has “gone missing”, the court was told.

"They caused considerable damage to the centre which was in good maintenance despite being closed. They pulled piping, caused leaks by removing pipes from hot water tanks and pulled cabling out of the walls,” said the prosecutor.

Explaining the charge against Martins of driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition, the prosecutor said this was because of the weight of the stolen items which meant the vehicle was “right down in the arches”. “Otherwise it was in very good condition,” she said.

Martins’ barrister, Mr John Paul McCann, pointed out there were no criminal damage charges against either defendant.

He said Martins was “struggling for money” at the time and couldn’t afford food and other essential bills.

The barrister said Martins was “taking scrap metals from an abandoned leisure centre to sell on to help cover his bills”, adding: "he would describe it as a crime of necessity.”

"He knows his actions were wrong but committed in the context of severe financial hardship. The pre-sentence report assesses him as a low likelihood of reoffending,” he said.

Martins struggles with substance misuse and takes methadone daily but “struggles with alcohol and heroin”, the court heard.

Mr McCann said Martins, who is originally from Portugal, is “an industrious gentleman who has worked in Moy Park for the last 20 years”. He was made redundant last year and is now unemployed.

Costa’s barrister, Mr Joel Lindsay, said his client is originally from Portugal but lived here since he was a child. He said he found it difficult with “increased tensions recently” which exacerbated his mental health.

Mr Lindsay said Costa had lost his job and was struggling financially and “decided to go along with this” however has been very apologetic.

Both defendants were given a Combination Order with one year on Probation and 80 hours Community Service. Martins was given a one-month driving ban for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition and fined £200 plus a £15 Offender Levy.