‘Prolific offender’ jailed for stealing from vans in Laois
The man stole over €8,000 in tools from one vehicle and €1,400 in cash from another
A “prolific offender” who admitted stealing tools worth over €8,000 and €1,400 in cash from vehicles in Laois has been sentenced to jail.
Stefan Scurtu(45) 21 Rockboro Avenue, Ballintemple, Cork pleaded guilty to theft and interfering with vehicle charges at a sitting of Portlaoise District Court.
He stole tools worth over €8,000 from a vehicle at Balladine Heights, Abbeyleix, between September 29 and 30, 2023. He also interfered with a vehicle at Sli Na Noir Abbeyleix on September 30, 2023. Between September 29 and 31 he took €1,400 cash, a Dewalt grinder, five batteries, a mini grinder, cordless drive and tools worth €1,480. The man also stole a bank card and he stole a chainsaw valued at €250 from a property at Fairways, Abbeyleix on a date between September 29 and October 1, 2023.
Garda Sergeant Colin O’Leary said the defendant, who appeared in court via videolink, had broken into five vehicles and taken items from all but one of them. He said the man had 71 previous convictions which all relate to theft.
Sgt O’Leary said he had a victim impact statement from one of the victims of the thefts in Laois.
Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client was serving a sentence with a release date in May 2026. He said he was a Romanian national who has been in Ireland for the past four years and he works in construction.
“It is quite clear that he is a prolific offender,” said Mr Fitzgerald. He said his client had pleaded guilty at an early stage and cooperated with gardaí. He said the man is in custody and has had time to “reflect on his criminality”.
“This is at the very upper end of district court jurisdiction in terms of severity,” said Judge Susan Fay.
She sentenced the man to a total of 22 months to commence on completion of the sentence he was serving.
Judge Fay fixed recognisance in case of appeal at the sitting of Portlaoise District Court.