Man stole charity box from Cookstown store

Emmett McKillion (37), of Coagh Crescent, had previously pleaded guilty to theft of the box and its contents on October 6, 2019.

He had also admitted a charge of attempted theft of a box on the same date, and stealing a can of Red Bull, valued £1.99 for a local service station on July 2, 2019.

Counsel prosecuting said police received a report about a man attempting to steal a NSPCC charity box from Halfords.

She said examination of CCTV footage showed a male coming into the store on October 3 and staying there for about 20 minutes before taking the charity box.

The lawyer said there was a second incident on October 6 showing McKillion attempting to take a charity box from the same store.

Counsel added that on July 2, police received a report of the defendant going into Milburn service station and leaving with a can of Red Bull without paying. He later told police he took the can because he was thirsty coming home from work.

Describing them as “mean offences”, defence lawyer Liam McStay said McKillion has struggled with an addiction to heroin.

Mr McStay said the defendant went to Dublin in his teens and fell into the abuse of heroin and other drugs.

He added that the defendant has attempted to come off heroin since and has shown some degree of success in settling down although he still struggles on occasions.

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