AN opportunistic thief with a bit of a conscience was honest enough to hand in a purse he stole from a lady at a filling station, but not honest enough to hand back the cash it contained, his barrister pleaded at Galway District Court.
Hamlet Lomidze, 34 New Street West, Galway came before Judge Adrian Harris charged with what his defence described as “an opportunistic theft” of a purse and the €205 it contained.
Judge Harris heard that the defendant was at a service station in Westside when he noticed a lady who had gone inside to pay for her fuel had left her purse on the pump.
The defendant took the purse and drove off in his van. The lady did not miss the purse until she had left the service station but when she returned, it was gone.
Investigating Gardaí identified the defendant by his van registration plate which was captured on CCTV. They went to his home and recovered the stolen money. The cash was returned to the owner.
The defendant had previous convictions for fraud and theft.
Gary McDonald BL pleaded that this was an opportunistic theft, adding that at least he stopped at a nearby McDonald’s and handed in the purse with its contents, apart from the €205.
His client was holding his hand up to the offence and pleading guilty, and wished to apologise to the injured party. He is from Georgia, 58 and works part-time as a cleaner.
“He was honest enough to hand back the purse but not honest enough to hand it all back,” he pleaded in mitigation.
Judge Harris noted that there were previous convictions for theft, although of some vintage, he said. However, he could not overlook the fact that this was not the first time he was before the Court on such a charge.
He imposed a one-month prison sentence, suspended for one year on condition he is of good behaviour and engages with the probation services.
This article is funded by Comisiún na Meán.
