Man who stole goods from Kildare supermarkets 'not a particularly good thief'

A man who took goods from a number of Naas stores is not a particularly good thief, according to his solicitor.

Before Naas District Court was Grezgorz Derkowski, 42, whose address was given as Fr Peter McVerry Trust, Kerdiffstown House, Naas.

He stole items valued at €29.99 at Mr Price, Kilcullen Road, Naas on September 14, 2023; food valued at €51.96 from Aldi, Newbridge Road, Naas, on September 23, 2023; vodka and a power tool value €40.99 from the Aldi store on March 22, 2023; vodka value €20 from SuperValu, Naas on October 8, 2020, a vacuum cleaner value €70 at the Monread Shopping Centre on November 10, 2020; a drill value €609 at Woodies, Naas, on February 16, 2021; three light fittings value €104.97 at Woodies, Naas, on May 8, 2022; make-up and beauty items value €250 at Boots pharmacy, Dublin Road, Naas on June 27, 2023 and a rotary tool value €24.99 at Lidl, Newbridge on April 16, 2022.

The court heard that the defendant has 29 previous convictions, including some for theft and for being intoxicated in a public place in November, 2022.

Tim Kennelly, solicitor, said the man has been in Ireland for a number of years and has worked as a welder.

Mr Kennelly said his client had never committed an offence of violence and wants to be part of his children’s lives.

He added the man either stole alcohol or took items that could be exchanged for money or alcohol. He said the defendant had a good relationship with his family when he is not drinking.

He said he is not a particularly good thief since he has been caught so often and Sgt Dave Hanrahan said it was easy for the gardaí to identify him on CCTV because “they know him so well.”

Referring to the defendant's issue with alcohol, Judge Desmond Zaidan commented that he has sent him to prison before and he has come back  “all to feed his alcohol addiction.”

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He said the defendant is not aggressive or violent. He said he could send him to jail but this has not worked and he will “do time, be released and he’s still an alcoholic.”

Judge Zaidan added: “I’m not sure I can impose a punishment that’s worse than being an alcoholic which itself is a life sentence.”

He referred the case to the Probation Service and the man is to successfully complete an alcohol treatment programme.

He said if he didn't do this he would send him to prison for two years because he has a duty to protect the public.

Adjourning the case, he said if he comes before the court in the meantime he will be jailed for two years.