Thief threw a bottle at security staff

He was Aleksandrs Sersenko, whose address was given as Selshion Parade, Portadown, and he admitted a number of offences.

These were two common assaults on March 8 this year, fraud by replacing price tags of a lesser value on goods, the theft of flowers worth £20 from Bridge Street filling station and stealing limes, a potato peeler and beef jerky from Tescos.

The court heard that police received a report of a theft at Tescos were the defendant had been aggressive and abusive with security staff, throwing a bottle top at them.

At the self service area he was detected changing price tickets on the goods.

After he was arrested and cautioned he was identified as the person who stole flowers at the Bridge Street filling station. He was intoxicated at the time of the offences.

A barrister representing the defendant said it was a drunken escapade and there was nastiness of which his client was not proud.

Through an interpreter Sersenko said on this occasion he wasn’t thinking straight.

District Judge, Mrs Bernie Kelly, said this was his third appearance in court in a short time for offences of dishonesty.

She certified the offences sufficiently serious to merit a community based disposal and imposed 180 hours community service.

The judge warned the defendant if he did not fully co-operate with probation the community service order would be replaced by an immediate custodial sentence.