A 24-year old Irvinestown man. who is presently serving time for other offences, appeared at Fermanagh Magistrates Court to face three fresh charges of stealing a 32" TV set valued at £399 from Dunnes Stores, Enniskillen on 5th December last, acting in a disorderly manner in Henry Street on 12th July last year and assaulting a Police Constable.

Anthony Liam Maughan, from Briar's Wood, Irvinestown admitted all three offences and was sentenced to three months' jail on the theft charge and four months on the other two counts, the jail terms to run concurrently with his present sentence.

The Court was told that Maughan is due for release on 4th July next, having been given an eight-month sentence on 4th February last, which included suspended sentences that were activated on that date.

Counsel for the prosecution told the Court that on 5th December last year, Police were called to Dunnes Stores to investigate a shoplifting offence. The defendant, he said, was walking away with a 32" TV set in a shopping trolley.

He was arrested and brought to Enniskillen where he was interviewed about the offence and admitted taking the set.

The Court heard that the TV set was recovered and was fit for resale.

Garry Smyth, defending, described the theft as, 'an amateur attempt' on his client's part, to believe he could walk out of the store with it, given the fact there was cctv coverage.

"He instructs me he was under the influence that particular day and he accepts it was a foolish action on his part. There was no loss to the shop, albeit incidents of that nature are difficult for retailers to have to deal with".

Mr Smyth said he was further instructed that his client's older sister was due to be married in October and that his girlfriend, who, he said, was in Court, was expecting their first child.

"He has had enough time to reflect on his actions".

The RM, Liam McNally, told Maughan it was time he wised up and behave himself:

"I did consider you starting what I'm going to send you to prison for after you had completed your present sentence but, in light of the fact I imposed a previous suspended sentence, I'm not going to do that.

"In other words, when you are released in July, you will come out with a clean slate. You're 24, it's time to wise up and behave yourself".