Man who ransacked a shop is jailed by judge

Man who ransacked a shop is jailed by judge

8 October 2014

A DOWNPATRICK man has been jailed for nine months after a judge activated six suspended sentences hanging over him.

Thirty four year-old Paul Smart was jailed at Downpatrick Court on Thursday after admitting breaking into a Downpatrick business, which was ransacked during the raid, leaving a repair bill of £9,000.

Smart, of Church View, broke into the Mortgage Bureau offices on April 20 and stole a large amount of equipment including computers, lap tops, a telephone and other items.

District Judge Peter King fined Smart £25 and jailed him for five months for the burglary.

He also activated six suspended sentences which had been imposed on Smart for a variety of other offences. These included sentences for theft, possession of drugs, handling stolen goods and receiving stolen goods.

Smart’s total sentence in Maghaberry Prison will be nine months.

Another Downpatrick man also appeared at the same court in connection with the burglary at the Mortgage Bureau.

Ian Radford (26), of Church View, was charged with receiving some of the items which had been stolen in the burglary.

A solicitor said Radford had been visited by men “he did not want to name” who left some of the items in his home. The items were still there when police called several days later.

Radford was given 75 hours of community service.