Stole ¤10 sleeveless polar jacket in Heatons

AN asylum seeker from Mauritius has pleaded guilty to stealing a ¤10 jacket from Heatons store in Sligo last Christmas.

Pynee Kessaven (45), of Globe House, Chapel Hill had 12 previous convictions for theft and drugs in Dublin before he stole the sleeveless polar jacket from Heatons, Sligo on 29 th December 2016.

His defence solicitor, Mr Seamus Monaghan, told the court that Kessaven was transferred from Dublin to Sligo in December of last year and didn’t have time to bring all his belongings with him.

“He went down to Heatons. He had money. Instead of paying for it he stupidly walked out the door,” said Mr Monaghan to Judge Kevin Kilrane.

“Is that not a sanitised version of ‘ he stole the jacket’?” queried Judge Kilrane.

“Oh he did. He co-operated with the Gardaí,” said the solicitor. He said Kessaven had been in Ireland for 12 years and had over time, studied childcare and nursing.

Mr Monaghan said his client had done some voluntary work with the hospice and held up a large bundle of references which spoke “quite highly of him as a person.”

“He also has medical issues with anxiety and had received support from Spirasi, a support service for asylum seekers,” he told the judge.

Judge Kilrane said he didn’t know there were problems in Mauritius and wondered why Kessaven was seeking asylum here.

“It’s because of his persuasion, if I can put it that way Judge,” replied Mr Monaghan.

Judge Kilrane noted that four of Kessaven’s previous convictions were for the sale or supply of drugs and asked him why he was breaking the law while he was an asylum seeker.

“I’m very sorry Judge,” replied Kessaven from the witness box.

“I’m sure you’ve said you’re sorry before,” said Judge Kilrane, adjourning the case to 12 th April 2018 to monitor. He warned Kessaven if he had any further convictions in the meantime he would go to prison on this theft charge.