Judge describes man as a '˜consistent' thief

Kevin James Harrison (19), of Danes Hill Road, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court last Monday for sentencing on three theft charges relating to February 1 this year.

He had taken women’s clothing worth £102.94 from New Look, Coleraine; headphones and a sound system worth £30 from JV3 Mobile and two bottles of lemonade, two packets of sandwiches and a packet of Wisdom toothbrushes worth £5 from Poundland.

A prosecutor said police were alerted and Harrison and his partner were stopped at Lodge Road. Sandwiches were being eaten out of a packet and other stolen property was identified.

Police were told the duo had no money and the thefts were admitted.

The other person was dealt with by way of a caution, court heard.

Apart from the food the items were fit for re-sale.

A defence lawyer told the hearing it had been a “silly mistake” and Harrison wishes to apologise.

She explained that her client had no money for food and that the defendant said that the clothes were for his girlfriend.

District Judge Liam McNally said Harrison had a bad record in relation to dishonesty offences including three burglaries, 11 thefts and six frauds.

He said he had been given a previous suspended sentence at Coleraine Court and also another court and three weeks later he was stealing again. Activating the suspended terms he imposed a nine months jail term.

Bail of £300 was fixed for appeal which was listed to be heard on Tuesday, April 5 although he was remanded in custody over night.

On the Tuesday sentence was deferred and he was released from custody.

* An Articlave man caught using a motorised quad bike without insurance and absence of a driving licence last October claimed he was getting it ready as a Christmas present for his child, a court has heard.

Ian Thomas Turner (26), a window cleaner of Dunboe Gardens, was detected by police at Ardina Road, on October 20 last year, Coleraine Magistrates Court was told last Monday.

A defence lawyer said the defendant was taking the quad bike a distance of 500 metres. He was banned from driving for six months and fined £250.

A Coleraine man has pleaded guilty to being disorderly at the Causeway Hospital.

Simon Fleming (41), of Somerset Drive, committed the offence on May 30 last year.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a male on the same date.

At Coleraine Magistrates Court on April 4 the case was adjourned to May 5 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

The court heard the defendant is currently on a suspended sentence for similar offences.