Thief who stole £1,500 had been shot in legs

A WEST Belfast man chased and caught after stealing £1,500 from a car was previously shot in the legs, a court heard yesterday.

As Padraig Stilges was given a three-month suspended jail sentence, a judge was told he remains under paramilitary threat.

The 20-year-old, of Norglen Parade in the city, was among four men who raided the car on June 12.

Belfast Magistrates Court heard the victim gave chase after seeing them around his car parked in the Little Patrick Street area.

He pursued the group towards the city centre, going through Hill Street and Donegall Street.

Other suspects fled, but Stilges was caught and held on the ground after bumping into a car.

Nearly £1,500 in cash and a mobile phone belonging to the victim were recovered.

Defence solicitor John Finucane described it as an “opportunistic enterprise”. He said: “There was cash sitting openly in the car, the car was unlocked and no damage was caused.”

Mr Finucane revealed his client was training to be a mechanic before being subjected to a gun attack prior to the theft.

Stilges was shot in the knee and ankle and still has a bullet lodged in his leg, the court heard.

According to his lawyer, he has to sit down after being on his feet for 15 minutes.

“It was doomed that he was going to get away at all,” Mr Finucane added.