A man who stole €1,000 from a woman’s purse outside a shop in Enniskillen has been given a suspended sentence and ordered to pay back the money.

It was heard at Enniskillen Magistrates Court that on February 16, 2022, the victim parked her car outside a shop in Enniskillen before going into her place of work in a pharmacy.

When she realised she did not have her purse she thought she had left it in her car but it was later found on the ground beside her car with €1,000 missing from it.

CCTV

Police arrived and checked CCTV which showed a male, Roy Johnston (59), with an address of Innis Fold, Coleshill Road, Enniskillen, lifting an item off the ground and putting it in his pocket and walking away.

He was identified by staff in the pharmacy as he was known to them.

Police visited Johnston at his home and €550 was found in his wallet.

After caution, Johnston made a significant statement to the police saying: “I found that on the Cornagrade Road.”

Johnston made admissions that he took the wallet as well.

A pre-sentence report was ordered for Johnston and his barrister, Steffan Rafferty, said it was “fairly favourable” for the defendant who was at low risk of re-offending.

He said Johnston had been candid with the author and did not know what came over him but he was “remorseful” and apologetic” and said this was out of character.

District Judge Steven Keown pointed out that there was a dishonest offence in the past but Mr. Rafferty maintained it was very much out of character for Johnston to have behaved in this manner.

Judge Keown described the theft as a “nasty offence” involving a lot of money.

However, he said with restitution being paid he could deal with it without a custodial sentence. Johnston was given a four-month sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay back €550 and £380 in restitution.