Tyrone woman given ‘last chance’ at Derry Court after iPhone theft
Eileen Stokes (41) of Mourne Park in Newtonstewart in Co. Tyrone was charged with, on July 24 last year, taking a phone valued at £1200 that had been reported stolen
A woman has been told she is on her ‘last chance’ when she appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with stealing an iPhone and attempting to sell it via false representation.
Eileen Stokes (41) of Mourne Park in Newtonstewart in Co. Tyrone was charged with, on July 24 last year, taking a phone valued at £1200 that had been reported stolen.
The owner of the phone had tracked it's location and traced it to a shop where staff said two woman had tried to sell it for £40.
The phone was returned to it's owner and Stokes was arrested.
Defence Barrister Grainne McAnaney said that Stokes claimed to have found the phone on a wall while noting that she had a 'very bad string of offences' of a similar nature from various shops.
District Judge Ted Magill questioned the point in granting probation, stating that Stokes has 'demonstrated she cannot stop offending' even when it has been granted in the past.
Ms McAnaney said that Stokes is an alcoholic but District Judge Magill said that she claims not to drink anymore.
He gave Stokes eighteen months probation, telling her it was her 'last chance'.
He also re-suspended an earlier suspended sentence for eighteen months, telling her that she was at the 'absolute end of the road'.