A BANDON man described by a district court judge as a ‘recidivist’ has avoided a jail term for the theft of vapes and a speaker from two shops.

Denis Grec of Dunloe, Dunmanway Road, Bandon pleaded guilty at Bandon District Court to the thefts.

Gda Darren Cahalane told Judge Joanne Carroll that on Thursday November 13th last the accused entered the 3 Store in Bandon with a co-accused who handed him a speaker valued at €70, which he then concealed and left the shop without paying for.

‘CCTV was later examined and he was identified. A caution memo was taken where he made full admissions and the speaker was later recovered from the co-accused,’ said Gda Cahalane.

Insp Kay O’Donoghue then told the court that on November 20th the accused admitted to stealing €88 worth of vapes from a vape shop on Pearse Street in Bandon.

‘One of the suspects was identified as Denis Grec form the CCTV footage. He was later interviewed and made full admissions to stealing the vapes, which were not recovered.’

The court heard that Mr Grec has 47 previous convictions including nine for theft while others are for public order and road traffic matters.

Defence solicitor Myra Dinneen said her client is originally from Moldova and that his underlying problem was his addiction to heroin.

‘He was clean for two years and then had a relapse. He has since moved to Galway and has a structure there,’ said Ms Dinneen.

Mr Grec handed €100 into court which was given to gardaí to pay back the vape shop owner.

‘He’s a recidivist,’ remarked Judge Carroll.

She convicted Mr Grec and directed him to carry out 100 hours of community service in lieu of five months in prison.