A Lithuanian man who stole a laptop from Cox’s restaurant in Castlebar pleaded guilty to the offence in Castlebar District Court this week. Jurijs Zilajeurs, formerly of Castle Street, Castlebar, now of no fixed abode, admitted in court that he stole the laptop valued at €600 so he could sell it to make some money.
Garda Brian McGuire told the court that at 2.30am on February 28 2010 Zilajeurs entered Cox’s bar through the front door as the bar was being cleaned up following the night’s business. He made his way upstairs to the restaurant part of the business which was closed at the time, but the door into the restaurant was unlocked and he entered an office in the restaurant, put the laptop under his shirt, and walked back out of the restaurant.
His actions were caught on CCTV in the premises and on March 1 2010 at 7.15pm Garda McGuire arrested him on Main Street, Castlebar, as he fitted the description of the man who was caught on CCTV committing the theft. When questioned by Garda McGuire, Zilajeurs admitted that he had stolen the laptop and he made a call to a friend who had it and it was handed in to the Garda station.
“If I impose a fine, this man doesn’t have the money to pay it, and if I sentence him to prison it will help nobody,” Judge Mary Devins told the court. She asked Zilajeurs if he would co-operate with the probation service in regards to seeing if he was suitable for a community service order rather than a prison term, which he agreed to do. Judge Devins adjourned sentencing until May 5 to see if he was suitable to carry out 140 hours community service in lieu of a three month prison term.
