Man who 'robbed' 42-inch flat screen TV while owner slept is given suspended jail sentence
A 24 year-old man who stole a 42-inch flat screen television from his associate, who was asleep upstairs at the time, was handed a suspended jail sentence when he appeared before Magherafelt Magistrate’s Court this morning.
Pearce McLarnon of Church Street, Cookstown was charged with burglary and assault.
Sentencing on McLarnon had been deferred last November.
The court heard on June 2, 2013, police were tasked to an address at Killowen Drive in Magherafelt following a report that someone had entered a property and stolen a 42 inch Samsung flat screen television.
The injured party told police officers that he had been asleep in bed when he was wakened by the defendant at around 3am.
The pair sat up drinking and chatting for a short while before the defendant left and the injured party went back to bed, the court heard.
At 6.30am, the injured party noticed that his television was gone. He suspected that it was the defendant.
He told police officers that he must have left the door unlocked.
The court then heard that a woman, who lived in a different property, woke up at 7.20am to find the defendant lying on her floor with a flat screen television beside him.
The woman told police that the defendant had been in her house, drinking with her and her partner until 2.30am.
The woman also told police that she had received a text message from the defendant at 3.10am saying that he was going to ‘rob a 42-inch T.V,’ the court heard.
During an interview the defendant made no comment but did admit that he owned the phone from which the text message was sent.
The court then heard that on June 19 last, the injured party attended to Magherafelt Police Station, suffering facial injuries.
He told police that McLarnon had punched him on the face.
An ambulance was tasked and the injured party was taken to Antrim Area Hospital where it was later discovered that his nose was broken.
On June 27, the injured party was operated on to have broken bones realigned, the court heard.
Defence solicitor, Donal Heron said: “This man has a number of convictions which are associated with his addictions, particularly his alcohol addiction but he is engaging with the mental health nurse to tackle these issues.”
Commenting on the case, District Judge Alan White said: “He was extremely fortunate to be given a deferred sentence given the amount of suspended sentences he has, but he has stayed out of trouble so I cannot impose a custodial sentence,” before passing down an eight months jail sentence suspended for three years.
The defendant was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to the injured party.
“Stay out of trouble for the next three years. This is the last time that you will get a chance. If you end up back before me, you will be going into custody,” warned Judge White.