Games stolen are from Tesco store

Egidijus Mikalajunas, Rectory Close, Loughgall, admitted two offences at a previous court and the case was adjourned for a specific sentence report.

He pleaded guilty to the theft of four Console games worth £109 from Tesco and going equipped for theft with a foil lined bag.

The court heard that on February 5 at 5.30pm police were called to Tesco in Banbridge in relation to a shoplifting incident.

A male was seen on CCTV loitering around the store with a carrier bag. He had goods in his bag and left without paying for them.

There was another bag which was lined with foil inside the carrier bag. The games were recovered and were fit for re-sale.

When interviewed the defendant accepted the theft charge but denied going equipped, saying that he had found the foil lined bag in the shop.

A solicitor representing Mikalajunas said that he had a relevant previous conviction in July last year.

He explained that he had arrived in the jurisdiction in 2005 and had been working but he lost his job and since then had not been able to find employment.

The solicitor said he took the items, hoping to sell them to buy food for his family. In the pre-sentence report he had shown remorse.

District Judge, Mr Paul Copeland, said it indicated in the report the defendant was in receipt of benefit in the region of £140 a week.

He asked for Mikalajunas to be taken into custody and for his solicitor to get a breakdown of his income.

Later in the court the judge returned to the case and heard a breakdown of the income the defendant had to cater for his wife and four children. His wife was not eligible for benefits.

Judge Copeland said Mikalajunas had enough disposable income for him not to need to steal.