Portadown man who made off without paying for petrol three times, is to appeal six-month jail sentence, Craigavon court hears
A Co Armagh man, who drove off without paying for petrol three times at the same forecourt, has been given a six-month jail term.
David Clarke, aged 30, of Edward Street, Portadown appeared before Craigavon Magistrates Court pleading guilty to a number of charges including three counts of making off without paying, three charges of driving while disqualified and three charges of driving without insurance.
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Clarke’s barrister, Mr Joel Lindsay, said an arrest warrant had been executed and he was granted bail to attend court.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan noted Clarke had 91 previous convictions.
The court heard police received a report from Eurospar at Brownstown Road, on October 16 last year that a male driver of a Skoda Fabia placed £25.12 of petrol into the vehicle and had driven off without paying.
The prosecutor revealed the same male driver had attended the same forecourt on October 11 and 13 last year and placed £15.07 and £25.07 worth of petrol in the same vehicle and drove off without paying. The total loss to the store is £65.26.
Clarke made full admissions during interview.
Mr Lindsay said that it is “never great” when one appears in one instance of driving while disqualified and then it is repeated. He informed the court his client is disqualified until June 2029.
The barrister said the defendant had been living “house to house” through various Simon Community homes.
"You will see that most of his record is made up of breaches of VOPO (Violent Offences Prevention Order) which go on and on for a long period of time and that is no longer an issue,” said Mr Lindsay, adding Clarke’s last violent incident was in 2018.
He said his client has addiction issues and has been working with Community Addictions in Armagh and is “motivated” to do so.
The barrister said Clarke had been working on a fishing trawler boat and was uncontactable until his recent arrest.
"He was granted bail to attend court today and he did come.”
District Judge Michael Ranaghan told Clarke: “Your record is an appalling one so custody is the only outcome for you today.”
He was sentenced to six months in jail on each count plus £25 offender levy.
Clarke was released later on £300 bail to appeal the sentence.