Man who stole groceries in Longford had gone three days without food

A man who stole groceries from the shelves of a Longford supermarket after going three days without food has been fined €150 by District Court Judge Bernadette Owens.

Thirty-four-year-old Kamil Bulczak, Apartment 4, Take Two Apartments, Earl Street, Longford pleaded guilty at last week's court sitting to shoplifting from Davis SuperValu, Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Townspark Industrial Estate, Longford.

That incident, the court heard took place on September 26 when Mr Bulczak entered the store and proceeded to place a number of items into a black bag before leaving the supermarket without paying.

Mr Bulczak, the court heard, had 45 previous convictions to his name, the most recent of which was recorded in May this year for theft.

That coincided in a probation bond order for 12 months.

Part of those conditions, it was revealed, also required Mr Bulczak to attend Merchants Quay and Gamblers Anonymous.

Defence solicitor John Quinn said the facts of the case spoke for itself with Mr Bulczak “very much down on his luck”, but also with a need to procure treatment for his addiction.

Mr Bulczak, who had remained silent throughout the hearing addressed the court to put forward his own reasoning for his behaviour on the day.

“I will never do that again,” he said.

“I was three days without food.”

Judge Owens, upon hearing those claims, indicated she would be recording a conviction.

Mr Bulczak was fined €150 and given six months to pay. Legal aid was also granted to the accused.

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