Man hoping to prove himself, court heard

A 22-year-old man before the court on numerous theft charges wants to prove himself, Sligo District Court heard. John Ward, of Glenview Park, Ash Lane, Sligo was charged with stealing an Apple Mac Book, hangbag with €130, a purse with Barclay’s Debit cards worth €850, wallet with €120 cash, theft from Centra Castle St (€23.58), Topaz Cartron (€13:31), using stolen credit cards to buy €230 of Irish Ferry tickets, criminal damage, no insurance and handling stolen property.

All of the offences dated back to 2016 apart from the most recent on September 19 th 2018 for public order after a group of four people were fighting at Elm Gardens, Ballytivnan.

The defendant had 49 previous convictions, the court heard.

The probation officer told the court the offences dated back to a spate of offending in 2016.

The judge said he has given people chances in the past, some have taken them, some haven’t and received lengthy prison sentences.

He told Ward, who was represented by Ms Laura Spellman, to have the good sense to obey that and adjourned the matter to April 2019 with liberty to re-enter.