AN ATHLONE man only ended up in Tuam because he had fallen asleep on a bus, Judge James Faughnan was told at Ballinasloe District Court, by his solicitor.
When he woke up, things got even worse as he pretended to have a gun on him when confronted by an Aldi security man in a failed attempt with an accomplice to steal eight cans of cider from the Tuam store.
His case came before Tuam Court last week but was adjourned to Ballinasloe to see if the security man wanted to make a victim impact statement.
When the case was called again in Ballinasloe Judge Faughnan was told that the security man had been “badly shaken” by the incident but did not wish to make a victim impact statement.
Richard Curtin (50 ), 30 College Park, Athlone was with another individual on May 31, 2024 when they took eight cans of cider valued at €17 from Aldi in Tuam.
They were confronted by a security man and Curtin threatened him and told him he had a gun on him. He put his hand in his top as if to draw a gun and this put the security man in fear. When Gardaí arrived they found no gun.
The Court heard Curtin had 77 previous convictions, including 41 for theft, three for possession of knives and three for public order.
The day after his Tuam appearance, Curtin received a five-month prison sentence at Athlone District Court and the following day was in Ballinasloe where he received ten months from Judge Faughnan.
