Man steals from Aldi, hassles students
The man paid for half the items he picked up and left without paying for the others.
A 25-YEAR-OLD Carlow man has been ordered to engage with the Probation Services after he appeared before the local district court charged with theft and public order offences. John Craddock, 1 Morrins Lane, Graiguecullen, Carlow appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Carlow District Court in relation to three separate incidents.
The court heard that on 5 September last, Mr Craddock entered the Aldi supermarket in Graiguecullen and selected several items. He paid for half of the items but left the store without paying for goods to the value of €13.19. Gardaí subsequently identified the defendant from CCTV footage of the incident.
On 2 October at 2.35pm, gardaí were called to Centaur Court, Carlow town, following reports of people fighting. Mr Craddock was found to be intoxicated to the extent that he was a danger to himself and others. He was arrested and later charged with a public order offence contrary to section 4 of the .
In a separate incident in the early hours of the same date, at approximately 3am, the defendant was observed “stumbling” on the Kilkenny Road while harassing students who were attempting to make their way home. He was highly intoxicated at the time.
Defence solicitor Joe Farrell told the court that he had met his client over recent weeks and observed that “he has been sober”. Mr Farrell said his client had brought €34.50 to court and was contrite.
“I am aware the court has been very patient with him and I am asking the court to extend its patience a little bit more,” Mr Farrell said, adding that his client was willing to engage in community service.
Judge Carthy directed that a probation report be prepared, with a hearing date for January 2026.
