Stole champagne and brandy worth over €1,400 from Tesco
The defendant was caught on CCTV
A MAN who stole over €1,400 worth of brandy, champagne and other high-end drinks from Tesco in Carlow received a suspended sentence when he appeared before the local district court last week.
Uncas Burcea, 30 Old Burrin, Carlow pleaded guilty to four counts of thefts from Tesco, Fairgreen Shopping Centre, Carlow on 16 and 29 March and on 4 and 12 April this year.
Insp Tom Jones told the court that Mr Burcea (34) was caught on CCTV taking bottles of Moet champagne, Remy Martin brandy and other high-end bottles of alcohol and that the alcohol, worth over €1,420, was stolen by him.
He added that the defendant had 15 previous convictions, none of which were for theft. The court heard that five unopened bottles of champagne were found by gardaí in Mr Burcea’s house.
Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that a person that Mr Burcea had been living with at the time had introduced him to the concept of stealing and that he “hadn’t put an awful lot of thought” into what he was doing.
Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted and sentenced Mr Burcea to nine months’ imprisonment, which she suspended for 18 months. She ordered him to engage with the probation service and to pay Tesco €700 in compensation.
