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A “prolific offender” who damaged a reindeer decoration at a Co Down filling station during a pre-christmas crime spree was sentenced yesterday.

As well as being handed a 12-month sentence which was suspended for two years, Jackie Paul Kirkwood was also ordered to pay £1,000 compensation to the garage owner.

This, Judge Geoffrey Miller QC said, would cover the cost of the damaged decoration, and items stolen from the garage by Kirkwood which included a second reindeer and a Santa statue.

From Severn Street in east Belfast, Kirkwood (43) attended the hearing via a videolink where he pleaded guilty to five offences committed on November 20, 2017. He admitted causing criminal damage to the reindeer, stealing items including steak and sausages, driving whilst unfit, driving whilst disqualified and not having insurance.

Crown barrister David McClean told the Downpatrick Crown Court Judge that on the day in question staff at a filling station on the Ravenhill Road in Belfast were alerted to a male who appeared to be “under the influence of something”. The male got into a black Alfa Romeo and the registration was noted.

At 1.30pm, staff at a petrol station on the Saintfield Road in Crossgar were told a man and women were acting suspiciously in the store.

Kirkwood and a female were captured on CCTV stealing items including steak and noodles, and as Kirkwood was leaving the premises he picked up a reindeer decoration which he dropped and broke.

He then picked up a second reindeer decoration along with a Santa statue before driving off in the Alfa Romeo. Police in Crossgar were alerted to the vehicle, which was later stopped.

Kirkwood admitted he was banned from driving, and when the car was searched the stolen items including the Christmas decorations were located.

The prosecutor said the defendant had 209 previous convictions, 89 of which were for motoring offences. He also revealed Kirkwood’s co-accused has already been sentenced for a single count of theft.

Defence barrister Richard McConkey raised the issue of delay in the case, and urged against immediate custody as Kirkwood has already served a “significant period of time” in jail for similar offences committed around the same time.

Judge Miller banned Kirkwood from driving for three years and warned him of the consequences of re-offending whilst under the two-year suspended sentence.