Jail warning from judge for Offaly man who stole baby formula
Man stole from Tullamore supermarket after suspended sentence imposed on him
A MAN is at risk of a prison sentence next month unless he can prove he has gone for treatment in a residential centre.
Judge Andrew Cody said that unless he is told on February 28 that Terry Jenkins (51), Cloncollig, Tullamore is receiving residential treatment he will impose a three-month sentence and refer the accused on to Tullamore Circuit Court where he could receive five years in prison.
Tullamore District Court was told by Sergeant Brendan Kearns that Mr Jenkins entered Tesco in Cloncollig, Tullamore on May 27 last year and stole €98 worth of baby formula.
A guilty plea was entered by his solicitor, Patrick Martin.
The accused had 76 previous convictions, among them theft, burglary, trespass and criminal damage.
In 2022 he received a five-year suspended sentence at Tullamore Circuit Court; in April 2021 he was sentenced to three months for burglary at Tullamore District Court; in 2018 he was sentenced to three months at Athlone District Court for public order offences and in 2017 he received a 10-month sentence.
Judge Cody noted that the theft from Tesco had been committed a year after the five-year suspended sentence.
“Suspended sentences don't make any difference Mr Martin,” he told the defending solicitor.
Mr Martin said the issue of the suspended sentence was still a live one before the Circuit Court where Judge Keenan Johnson had indicated he was anxious the accused get residential treatment.
The solicitor said Mr Jenkins was “off the rails” during the period when offences were being committed but he now had an appointment for treatment at the Tiglin residential centre. He had also brought €100 to court.
Judge Cody remanded the accused on continuing bail to appear in court again on February 28 next when he will enquire if Mr Jenkins was in the residential centre.