A 28-YEAR-OLD man telephoned the owner of a Tempo convenience store and apologised for stealing a box of beer from the premises after finding out the police were looking for him, Fermanagh Magistrates Court has heard.

Fergal Patrick McLaughlin, of Woodview Crescent, Trillick, was charged with stealing the box of Carlsberg, valued at £9.99, on March 29 this year.

McLaughlin had entered a guilty plea to the offence at an earlier appearance before Fermanagh Magistrates Court, and a pre-sentence report had been prepared in the case.

At his sentencing on Monday, the court heard that, at 12.30pm on March 29, the defendant entered the Costcutters store in Tempo and paid for a box of Carlsberg priced at £9.99 using his bank card.

He subsequently entered the same shop at 3.20pm on the same day and lifted another box of Carlsberg. However, on this occasion, McLaughlin left the premises without paying for the beer.

The theft was captured on CCTV, the court heard.

Police officers attended the Costcutters store on April 3 this year. They were told that the defendant had telephoned the premises two days earlier and had apologised for his actions and made full payment for the stolen beer.

He had been made aware that the police were already involved, the court was told.

During a later notebook interview conducted by the PSNI, the defendant made a full admission to the theft.

Defending solicitor, Michael Fahy, told the court that his client was “no stranger” to this type of offending and had accepted his guilt from the outset.

In mitigation, Mr Fahy said that the defendant had the decency to telephone the store to offer an apology, although he conceded that McLaughlin “may have been aware” that the police were seeking him at that point.

Deputy district judge, Terence Dunlop, observed that this was a case where community service would be “most appropriate”.

Taking into account that the defendant had apologised to the shop owner for the stolen box of Carlsberg, the judge imposed an 80-hour Community Service Order (CSO).