A man, believed to have now fled the country, was sentenced to two years for a theft at a local school after fooling unsuspecting staff into believing that he was enrolling his child.
The Galway Circuit Court heard last Tuesday how Alexander Socolovschi (24 ) had pleaded guilty to the theft in July last and had been due to face sentencing, however gardai have had significant difficulty in locating him.
Detective Garda John Maloney gave evidence that a warrant had been issued in the Circuit Court but there have been no sightings of the accused. Gardai in Athlone were brought to investigate numerous addresses for Socolovschi; at the time of the offence he had been living in Clonbrusk. He also had addresses between Athlone and Cork.
“He has been off our system since December 2007. He had a habit of moving addresses. I have no proof but he may have returned to Moldova,” said Det Garda Maloney.
The court then heard that on May 10, 2006, Socolovschi had made arrangements to meet with the principal of Scoil Chroí Íosa, Newcastle Road, Galway under the pretence that he planned to enrol his daughter. At 10.30am he met with a teacher and was given an introduction to the school. He was later told to go into a waiting area to fill out an enrolment form, however, when the teacher came back she noticed he was gone but thought nothing of it. When the principal made enquiries as to his whereabouts she discovered that her briefcase containing documents, a mobile phone, and car keys was missing; the total value of the property taken was €680.
State barrister Conor Fahy told the court that the accused had come to Ireland when he was 16 years old. He added that the documents, the empty case, and the keys were found nearby by a postman.
The court heard how Socolovschi has 19 previous convictions which include theft in June 2006 for which he received two months jail. He was fined for theft in July 2005 and bound to the peace for two years for a theft offence in September 2005.
Det Garda Maloney said that the accused had replied “No comment” to any questions posed to him and that gardai had to rely on forensic analysis of finger prints.
Judge Raymond Groarke imposed a two year jail sentence and ordered a warrant to be issued.
