Romanian man stole €6,000 of goods from Mayo pharmacies to pay off gambling debt
A 49-year-old man was jailed for 12 months for theft of toiletries from two Claremorris pharmacies
A MAN who stole over €6,000 worth of goods from Mayo pharmacies to service an enormous gambling problem was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.
Romanian national Elvis Dulea of no fixed abode appeared before Castlebar District Court where he pleaded guilty to the theft of cosmetics from two Claremorris pharmacies on four different occasions last year.
The court heard that the 49-year-old native of Bucharest came to Ireland last year to work to help pay off a gambling debt in his home country. However, the court heard he had hoped to work on building sites but did not have the necessary qualifications and permits to do so and started to steal.
Court presenter, Sergeant Fiona Farrell explained the theft of toiletries and nicotine products from the Aran Pharmacy and Boot's Pharmacy in Claremorris on four separate occasions in September, November and December of last year.
She said that €6,084.99 worth of goods in total were stolen and Mr Dulea was identified from CCTV footage. Mr Dulea has been in custody since April and is not due for release until October 2027 after amassing 22 convictions since his arrival in Ireland.
Mr Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for Mr Dulea said his client is the father of two children and came to Ireland last year. He said that he has a gambling problem which has affected his life and hoped to get work in Ireland to help pay off his debts.
Mr Mulchrone said when he could not find work in Ireland he started to engage in a spate of thefts in order to finance his gambling habit as well as servicing some of his debt from Romania. He said that his client has no convictions in Romania and was anxious to plead guilty.
Judge Michael Connellan imposed three four month prison sentences for three of the theft charges which were to run consecutively and commence from the court date.