Suspended term for man who stole a mop

A Ballymena man who stole a mop from a shop in the town has been told that the stupidity of his offending was all that had prevented him from being sent to prison.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Sep 2010, 16:45 BST
Updated 10th Sep 2010, 11:24 BST

Dominic Kevin Donegan (42), of Devenagh Way, pleaded guilty to the theft of a mop valued at 3.99 from Poundstretcher, Wellington Street, on February 2, 2010.

A solicitor for Donegan said: “Theft is theft but one has to look at what was actually taken”.

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The court also heard that sentence had been deferred last December on Donegan on separate charges, namely burglary of a garage at Glendun Park in the town on October 17, 2009, and the attempted theft of a leaf blower, three fishing rods, a bolt cutter and a set of keys.

Addressing Donegan, District Judge, Mr Desmond Perry said: “It was very very clear that if you reoffended, you were going to prison.

“The only thing stopping me is the stupid nature of your offending and the item stolen”.

Sentencing Donegan to a combined 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for the offences, Mr Perry told him: “If you breach this suspended sentence you have no chance”.

Related topics:Ballymena