Man was ‘too drunk’ to pay for botte of vodka, court told

A man who went into a Coalisland store and removed the security tag off a bottle of vodka and left without paying, was given a four-month suspended jail sentence at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Friday (April 1).

By Court Reporter

Published 8th Apr 2022, 09:44 BST

Updated 8th Apr 2022, 16:15 BST

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John Paul Savage (32), of Railway View, admitted theft and going equipped on August 25 last year.

Prosecuting counsel said the incident happened at 5.50pm and police later called at the defendant’s home and the he admitted stealing the vodka, valued £18.69.

Defence lawyer Blaine Nugent explained that the defendant had the money to pay in his pocket but was so drunk he forgot to pay.

Dungannon Magistrates Court sits at Bishop Street courhouse in Derry / Londonderry.

Mr Nugent said Savage later offered to pay the police for the vodka and had been offered a caution but this was not accepted by the custody officer. He added the defendant was wearing his working trousers and had a clipper which he used to remove the tag.