Judge Olive Buttimer told a Castlecomer farmer suffering from a “persecution disorder” that stealing tractors was mean, at this month’s sitting of Kilkenny Circuit Court.
John Wilkinson of Smithstown Castlecomer was before the court on three charges of possession of stolen property, two tractors and a tractor operated compressor.
Kilkenny Sergeant Patrick Baldwin told Judge Buttimer that on October 25, 2006, Gardaí stopped Mr Wilkinson while driving through Castlecomer in his jeep towing a trailer with a large vehicle under tarpaulin.
After questioning they discovered the vehicle to be a tractor. Subsequent investigation revealed it to have been stolen from Kinnegad and a search warrant was issued. Gardaí acting on foot of the warrant later located the stolen tractor and another stolen Massey Ferguson tractor on Mr Wilkinson’s land. “It had no registration plates and the engine number had been filed off with an axel grinder. A new number had been stamped on it, but there were no letters,” said Sgt Baldwin.
Four days later, following a report from a local farmer of a sighting of Mr Wilkinson’s jeep near to where a tractor operated compressor had been stolen Gardaí obtained another warrant and found the item on Mr Wilkinson’s 40 acre farm near Castlecomer. Despite being apprehended towing the stolen vehicle, Mr Wilkinson, a married father of six, denied taking the items.
“He even tried to pass off the stolen tractor as his father’s,” said Sgt Baldwin. Described by defending barrister Kevin Byrne as suffering a persecution complex and psychiatric disorders and having two children in care the court heard Mr Wilkinson needed psychiatric help as opposed to prison.
Throwing her hands up in the air, Judge Buttimer said she had nowhere to send Mr Wilkinson.
“These offences are mean,” she said, suspending a two-year prison sentence for two years on each count and ordering Mr Wilkinson to stay out of trouble.
