Man who stole a pot of yogurt asks for six months in prison
Image for illustration purposes
A man who was brought before Judge Andrew Cody at Portlaoise District Court last week asked to be sentenced to six months in prison.
However, Judge Cody said he was not going to impose a six-month sentence over the theft of a €1.75 pot of yogurt.
The request to be imprisoned came from Patrick Kelly, Gort na nÓir, Abbeyleix who was brought before the court on foot of a bench warrant on two charges of theft and a public order offence.
Mr Kelly pleaded guilty to the theft of a €1.75 pot of yogurt from Dealz, engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Laois Shopping Centre on 24 August last, theft of a bottle of Captain Morgan rum valued at €28 and two shortcake biscuit bars valued at €3.90 from Dunnes Stores, Mountmellick Road, Portlaoise on 24 January.
At the outset of the case, Mr Kelly told Judge Cody: “You can impose a sentence of six months if you want. I’m living on the streets at the moment.” “I’m not going to sentence you to six months over a €1.75 yogurt,” said Judge Cody.
Defending solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said the courts are familiar with her 28-year-old client. Referring to Mr Kelly’s present precarious living conditions, she said: “It’s a sad state of affairs when a young man appears in court asking for a sentence.” Sergeant JJ Kirby said that Mr Kelly has 33 previous convictions, 11 of them for theft.
Ms Fitzpatrick said there are other charges coming through the system for Mr Kelly before added: “He needs help and can’t get it outside these four walls (courtroom).” Judge Cody said there needs to be a sense of proportionality in passing sentence in the case.
He went on to convict Mr Kelly of the thefts from Dealz and Dunnes Stores, imposed a one-month sentence on both and took the public order offence into consideration.
Free legal aid was also approved.
