Left shop wearing a stolen tracksuit

A BALLYMENA man who stole a tracksuit from the Nike store at Junction One in Antrim has been fined £300.

Daniel Lawerence McPeake (20), of Dunclug Park, walked out of the store with the 42 tracksuit on without making an attempt to pay.

Antrim Magistrates Court was told that police were called to the store on February 8 after staff witnessed a man walking out and the alarm then going off.

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CCTV showed the man - identified as the defendant - running towards a vehicle before making off.

During subsequent enquiries, the defendant made a full admission that he had no intention to pay for the goods. It was noted that he expressed some remorse.

McPeake's solicitor said her client had been endeavouring to change his life for the better.

work

"He has been co-operating with a government initiative to get offenders back to work," she said, adding that the offence pre-dates his engagement with the scheme.

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She added that McPeake had moved away from his old associates and was taking a more responsible approach.

She said that he had been with a "bad crowd" and had been involved in drugs.

"To his credit he's trying to change his life," she added.

District Judge commented that McPeake had a "disgusting, apalling record".

"What made him steal this? If it was pressure from somebody else I want to know who it was," Mr Alcorn said.

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He added: "He's old enough to know his own mind whether to steal or not."

Mr Alcorn said he would fine McPeake 300 and ordered him to pay a compensation order of 42.

"If he's back again with any more then I won't be as lenient," Mr Alcorn added.

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