A drunken man took a case of the munchies a little too far when he strangely stole a box of “frozen” chips from the back of a delivery van, a senseless act which cost him €600 in fines.
At Galway District Court this week was Aurelijus Zrielskis (34 ) with an address given as Fairgreen Hostel but formerly of 59 Cnoc An Oir, Rahoon, who was charged with be being intoxicated in a public place and with stealing a box of frozen chips, valued €8, at Eglinton Street on January 27 2009.
He was also charged with threatening and abusive behaviour at Carphone Warehouse, Shop Street, and with the theft of an Armani Code aftershave, valued €74, from Boots chemist, Shop Street, on the same date.
Inspector Mick Coppinger told the court that the defendant had stolen a bag of chips from a delivery van. He added that Zrielskis had 12 previous convictions one of which was for violent behaviour in a Garda station.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran said that her client, a Lithuanian national, was unemployed and separated from his partner with whom he had two children. Zrielskis had come into the country in 2001 and has been in Galway for 10 months. His life took a further bad turn when his father died two months ago and his mother has also fallen ill. Ms Corcoran said that “he went on the beer”. She added that all the property was recovered.
“There’s no sense at all in taking a box of frozen chips,” said Judge Mary Fahy who added that she will not be sending the defendant to jail this time. However, she warned that he was at risk of re-offending. Zrielskis was convicted and fined a total of €600 with three months to pay.
