Shoplifter stole £2,000 worth of goods in spree

A POLISH man living in Coleraine shoplifted around £2,000 worth of goods in a ten week period after his marriage broke down “to finance” his alcohol abuse as his life spiralled out of control, a court has heard.

Krystian Krzywania (32), of Brookmount Court, struck at a number of leading shops in the Coleraine area between September 22 and December 3 last year.

He used pliers to remove security tags and items stolen included shoes, clothing, camcorders, electrical items, male grooming products and alcohol.

Krzywania was identified on CCTV and when he returned to one of the outlets he was spotted and police were called. He told them: “I’m an alcoholic”.

Stolen items were recovered in his home but not all goods taken were fit for re-sale.

A defence barrister said it was a “catalogue” of crime and he explained how his client had came from Poland six years ago with his wife and they lived together and had a son but last September the marriage broke down and Krzywania fell into addiction and the abuse of alcohol.

The barrister said the defendant admitted he committed the thefts to sell on the items to get money to buy alcohol.

He said Krzywania has refrained from using alcohol in the last two months and he and his wife are back together and he is due to go back to full-time work.

The lawyer said the value of goods either not recovered or fit for re-sale was £1,200.

District Judge Richard Wilson said he would put Krzywania on probation for two years and ordered him to pay back some of the money still owed but on some of the other charges he deferred sentence for six months until August 23 to see how the defendant can control alcohol and he said the rest of the money can then be asked for.

He said if the defendant commits further offences he will be going to jail.

Mr Wilson, through an interpreter, told Krzywania: “You are going to have to co-operate fully with Probation and raise money and stay out of trouble. No more offending, otherwise jail.”

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