Derry man who smashed car window and stole purse jailed
Ciaran Paul Hogan (38) of Clon Dara in Derry admitted charges of theft, criminal damage to a window and possessing a hammer on February 22 this year
Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man smashed a window of a car and stole a purse.
Ciaran Paul Hogan (38) of Clon Dara in Derry admitted charges of theft, criminal damage to a window and possessing a hammer on February 22 this year.
The court heard that police were on patrol in the Northland Road area when they were flagged down by a man who said he had heard a bang and a car alarm going off.
The man said he had heard the bang and on looking out had seen a car window smashed and the alarm going off.
Police were given a description of the man believed to be responsible and detained Hogan.
A check of the vehicle revealed a claw hammer lying inside the car and the owner reported her purse was missing.
Hogan handed police a small green purse but denied the offences claiming he found the purse and was going to hand it in at the Strand Road PSNI Station.
Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said that it was 'an opportunistic theft.'
She said Hogan had found the hammer nearby and it was not as if he had left the house with it.
The barrister said that her client had been in custody for a period.
Hogan was jailed for six months and ordered to pay £250 in compensation.