A career thief who assumed a false identity and used a sophisticated method to target electrical goods shops across the country was jailed for a total of 17 months for stealing more than €2,500 worth of cameras from one Galway city centre store in just three days alone.
Ex-champion wrestler Tedore Mindiashvili (23 ) with an address at 1 Emor Street, Dublin 8, was brought before Galway District court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to the theft of a Panasonic camcorder, valued €209.99, on September 6, the theft of an Olympus camera, valued €599.99, on September 7, and the theft of a Panasonic camcorder, valued €1,099.99, a Casio camera, valued €349.99, and a Nikon camera, valued €259.99, on September 8, 2010, from Currys, Galway Retail Park. He also pleaded guilty to using a false instrument, namely a Lithuanian passport, at Headford Road, on September 11, 2010.
When the Georgian national first appeared at a previous court sitting there had been some confusion over his real identity with a number of charges under a different name, that of a 28-year-old Vigintas Lalauskas. However, in court this week Inspector Mick Coppinger confirmed that a copy of the defendant’s real passport had been received and that he was satisfied that the defendant was Mindiashvili.
Inspector Coppinger told the court that on September 11 gardai received a report that a number of people had been frequenting Currys and they were suspicions regarding thefts which had occured in the previous few days. Gardai put an operation in place and the defendant was identified from CCTV footage. When Mindiashvili was arrested he admitted his role in the thefts but claimed to be Vigintas Lalauskas and produced a Lithuanian passport. It was not until the defendant was brought before a special court sitting that he admitted it was a false identity.
The court heard that on September 6, 7, and 8, the defendant would enter Currys, select a camera, and disconnect the alarm system cable from the display unit which would then prompt a staff member to come and check if the product was still on the shelf. After seeing that the camera was still in its place the staff member would then go back to re-set the alarm giving Mindiashvili the opportunity to take the camera.
“It’s a fairly sophisticated method,” noted Judge Mary Fahy.
Inspector Coppinger then said that the defendant has previous convictions for theft for which he received prison sentences. He also said that gardai found a number of bench warrants on the system in the name of Mindiashvili and that this “would account for giving the wrong name”.
“He was evading dealing with them,” said Judge Fahy
Defence solicitor Sean Acton said that his client came to Ireland in 2006 and had sought asylum, however, he then chose not to avail of the direct provision accommodation in hostels and the entitlements that came with it.
“Theft was used to fund a livelihood. He chose not to go into the system of getting €19 per week. He lived off his wits,” said Mr Acton, who added that the defendant is married with one child and another on the way.
Mr Acton also told the court that when arrested Mindiashvili made a full statement telling gardai about other theft offences and admitted the passport was false. He said that Mindiashvili had once been a champion wrestler before going into coaching. However, because of political reasons he had to leave his home country.
“He was using a false passport for a purpose, to put gardai and the State off the track of who he is,” said Judge Fahy before imposing a total prison sentence of 17 months, backdated to September 12. Leave to appeal was also granted.
The defendant was then remanded in custody to appear at Blanchardstown District Court on October 18 to deal with a number of other theft matters. Mindiashvili faces various charges which include theft of games consoles, computer games, possession of a tin foiled lined bag with intention to commit theft, and failing to appear in court on dates going back to October 2009 in locations throughout the country including Wexford, Kildare, and Carlow.
