Derry Court: Suspended sentence for man caught in 'vicious cycle' of drug addiction and offending

A man who a barrister said had been caught in 'a vicious cycle' of drug addiction and offending has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Shane Kavanagh (27) of Abercorn Road in Derry admitted a series of offences that occurred on October 2 last year.

The court heard that police were on patrol in the Richmond Centre at around 2.45pm when they were approached by security staff about two men acting suspiciously on the top floor.

The males had entered a local sport shop and then left it before changing their clothes and re-entering the shop again.

Police located the two males, one of the being Kavanagh, and the other man ran off. 

Kavanagh was seen discarding something into a bin and an 8 inch kitchen knife was recovered. 

Kavanagh was arrested and a check of the police vehicle he had been taken in a wallet belonging to another man was found. 

A driving licence was found and bank cards one of which had been used in 3 transactions valued at £78.

At interview Kavanagh said he was in fear of the travelling community. 

He denied any knowledge of the wallet. 

A defence barrister said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and came from a 'sad' family background. 

He said Kavanagh had made great progress since going into custody. 

Deputy District Judge Paul Copeland said that the custody threshold had been passed and imposed a sentence of 6 months which he suspended for two years.