Thief dropped wallet as he ran

Viktoras Sebeckas, whose address was given as Selshion Parade, Portadown, admitted three shoplifting offences when he appeared last Friday at Craigavon Magistrates Court.

He pleaded guilty to stealing alcohol valued at £52.28 from Costcutters on the Armagh Road, Portadown, on May 5 this year.

Sebeckas also stole bottles of shampoo, valued at £89.91, from B & M Bargains on June 4 and more bottles of shampoo, worth £99.90, from the same store on June 15.

For the first offence he was sentenced to two months in prison while he was given three months for the second offence and four months for the third theft.

All sentences are to run concurrently and were suspended for three years.

He was also ordered to pay compensation sums of £52.28, £89.99 and £91.99.

The court heard that on May 10 two males entered the Costcutters store where they put two bottles of brandy in a bag and left without paying.

Police traced the vehicle they left in and the defendant was also caught on CCTV.

On June 4 Sebeckas stole nine bottles of shampoo from B & M Bargains.

He returned on June 15 and stole 10 more bottles of shampoo.

This time staff gave chase and although they did not catch the defendant he dropped his wallet which contained an identification 
card.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, said the defendant was also convicted of similar offences in Newry in March and April of this year.

“It was a prolific set of theft offences in a very short time,” he commented.

A solicitor representing Sebeckas said he had drug problem and had developed an addiction to heroin.

He added that he had no previous offending until this spate began in April of this year.