Man gets six months prison for Carlow shop thefts
Photo for illustrative purposes
A man has been sentenced to six months in prison after pleading guilty to multiple theft offences at Carlow District Court.
Cameron Gibbons with an address at Woodstock Way, Townspark, Athy, who had been on remand since early December, appeared before Judge John O’Leary charged with five counts of theft.
The court heard that on 23 September last, 27-year-old Mr Gibbons took food and alcohol to the value of €16.85 from SuperValu, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny and made no attempt to pay.
On 27 October, he took €28 worth of alcohol from Dunnes Stores, Graiguecullen, followed by the theft of beer cans valued at €14.80 from the same retailer on 28 November.
The court was told that on 6 December 2024, the defendant took an Under Armour tracksuit worth €105.95 from Intersport Elverys at Fairgreen Shopping Centre. He brought the tracksuit into the changing rooms and subsequently attempted to leave without paying. He ran from the store but was apprehended.
It was also heard that earlier in September, Mr Gibbons had taken a bottle of Chanel perfume from Shaws department store on Tullow Street, Carlow.
The total value of goods stolen amounted to €332.60.
The court heard that the defendant has 33 previous convictions. His most recent theft prior to these incidents was on 25 April 2023, for which he paid a €400 fine.
Judge O’Leary noted that Mr Gibbons had appeared in the circuit court for another theft charge on 9 March 2023, receiving a four-month sentence suspended for 18 months, which the judge remarked was “eight days away from a triggering offence”.
Defence solicitor Chris Hogan said his client wished to apologise to the court and noted that he has “cognitive disabilities compounded by difficulties with intoxicants”.
Mr Hogan told the court that Mr Gibbons has been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, Asperger’s and autism, adding that there is evidence that individuals with some of these conditions can have a tendency to self-medicate.
The solicitor said his client had “made steps to address his addiction”, having sought a place at Cuan Mhuire, which he could not pursue due to being in custody.
The court was told that in 2024, Mr Gibbons had carried out five weeks of work experience and had been actively seeking work.
Taking all facts into account, Judge O’Leary noted the defendant’s previous convictions for theft and said he had received “lots of warnings” in relation to this behaviour.
He sentenced Mr Gibbons to one month imprisonment for the Shaws theft, one month consecutive for the SuperValu theft, two months for the second theft from Dunnes and two months consecutive for the Elverys theft, totalling six months imprisonment.
The sentence was backdated to 11 December 2024, when the defendant was first taken into custody.
