Six month prison sentence for man who went on 'stealing spree' in Tullamore

A Tullamore man was sentenced to six months imprisonment last week at the local court for committing multiple acts of theft in Tullamore during the summer months.

Michael Buckingham, 5G The Granery, Tullamore, was also charged with being in possession of cannabis on a number of occasions.

“The defendant went on a stealing spree during July, August and September,” commented Judge Andrew Cody. “There were seven thefts in Boots alone.”

Over the three month period Mr Buckingham stole from the Boots shop on Church Street the following items: €612 worth of cosmetics; Babyliss hair straightener worth €129; a men's shaver worth €60; men's hair straightener with a value of €160; a men's hair dryer valued at €80; a Revamp Progloss Hair Straightener worth €149.99.

On July 1 he stole €78 worth of alcohol from Spar, Arden Road, Tullamore. On August 23 he stole a bottle of Buckfast worth €20 from Dunnes Stores, Church Road, Tullamore. He stole groceries worth €13 from Leavy's Centra, 8 O'Carroll Street, on September 7. Three days later he stole a box of ice cream worth €7 from Leavy's Centra.

The defendant was also charged with several counts of being in possession of drugs, and being in possession of drugs for sale or supply. On October 27, 2022, and March 1, 2023, at 5G The Granery Tullamore he was charged with being in possession of cannabis for sale or supply.

On June 20, 2023 at 5G The Granary, Tullamore he was also charged with being in possession of cannabis and with obstructing Garda Shane Hunter from carrying out his duty, because he “digested an item that appeared to be a white tablet after Garda Hunter directed him to stop and attempted to prevent him from swallowing.”

The sergeant said Mr Buckingham had 35 previous convictions, including convictions for theft, possession of drugs for sale or supply, and public order offences.

The defending solicitor said his client had faced a number of difficulties during his life.

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“He suffers from mental health issues, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He is presently serving a prison sentence and has been in prison for the last five weeks, during which time he has been on a course of anti psychotics. Mentally speaking he is doing quite well now. His family and his girlfriend are supportive of him. There has never been an incident, relating to his convictions, where he became violent.”

The Judge sentenced to six months imprisonment for the multiple counts of theft. He also sentenced to six months imprisonment for the possession of drugs for sale or supply but suspended it for three years.

The court sergeant Brendan Kearns asked for a destruction order for the drugs, which the Judge granted.