Man stole items for christening party – court told

A BALLYMENA man stole items for a child's christening party because of his poor financial situation, the local Magistrates Court was told.

Anthony John Ramsey (21), of Carnduff Drive, was ordered to complete 180 hours community service, after admitting stealing packets of knives and forks, balloons and party poppers.

Ramsey was also given a four month suspended prison sentence after admitting receiving stolen DVDs and Xbox games and other drugs offences.

The court was told that police received a radio transmission from a town centre store on September 11 regarding a suspected shoplifter, who was observed pushing a pram.

He was found to have taken the knives and forks, valued at 3.16, from the store and the balloons and party poppers, worth 10.16 were found to have been taken from a different shop.

The court was also told that on November 6, police carried out a search of the defendant’s home and found a number of stolen DVDs and Xbox games - which the defendant said he had bought that day - along with eight cannabis plants which Ramsey had cultivated.

Barrister Andrew Moriarty said: “He would previously have had an addiction not just to cannabis but to the more pernicious and serious varieties.

“He has moved away from the area where he was finding himself getting into trouble in the past. He has made conscious efforts to put his past behind him.

“There was a christening coming up and his finances were such that he felt he had to steal the items of small value,” added Mr Moriarty.

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