Stole Buckfast from Portadown stores

Jamie Geddis, whose address was given as Dingwell Park, Lurgan, appeared last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court by videolink from Maghaberry prison.

He admitted the theft of alcohol valued at £18.49 and £27 on September 29 and stealing alcohol worth £31.02 on October 15 last year.

The court heard that on September 29 the defendant went into the Winemark store in Church Street, Portadown and took three bottles of Buckfast.

On the same day he went into the Winemark store on the Gilford Road, Portadown and took four bottles of the wine. Geddis returned to the Church Street store on October 15.

This time the defendant stole Buckfast to the value of £31.02. He was identified by police on CCTV footage.

Defence barrister Conor Lunny said Geddis was a long standing alcoholic who was well known to Winemark staff.

He added there was a lack of money on his client’s part and the offences were not sophisticated.

Deputy District Judge Sean O’Hare told the court the defendant had an atrocious record.

He imposed a prison sentence of four months on each of the three offences which the terms to run concurrently and ordered him to pay a £25 offender’s levy.