Stole pliers for trip to his friend's gave

So he decided to go to a store in the town and steal a pair of pliers to mend the machine.

Scott Mayne (21), Barban Heights, Dromore, pleaded guilty to the theft of the pliers, valued at £3.99, from SuperValu on August 30 this year.

Banbridge Magistrates Court heard last Thursday that the defendant went into the store, removed the packaging from the item and walked out.

He was identified immediately and the pliers were recovered but could not be put back on sale.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, said that Mayne had a total of 17 previous offences, most of them for dishonesty, and he casually took the pliers in a brazen manner.

A barrister representing the defendant said this incident was stupidity because it happened within a week of Mayne having been given a suspended sentence for theft.

He explained that his client wanted to visit the grave of a friend who had passed away a year ago.

He took the pliers to fix his bike and he did go to the grave, added the defence barrister.

The lawyer said that Mayne had not only put his own liberty at jeopardy but he had also put his young family at risk.

Judge Copeland said that theft seemed to be a part of the lifestyle of the defendant who just took what he wanted when he wanted.

He adjourned the case until October 13 for a specific sentence report to see if Mayne was suitable for community service so he could ‘do something worthwhile’ with his time.