A Polish man who found a bank card in Skibbereen and used it to buy groceries to the value of €33.83 received a three-month suspended sentence.

Tomas Zielinski (59) had been living at Flat No 1 at the Regal Estate in Skibbereen, but is now homeless in Cork city.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy said the injured party lost her PTSB card in Skibbereen and when the accused found it, at Baltimore Road on October 20th 2021, he used it to buy groceries at Lidl.

The sergeant pointed out that the accused has six previous convictions, but his solicitor said they were for public order offences related to his dependency on alcohol.

Zielinski’s solicitor said the offence dates back to 2021 and, in mitigation, he said his client had travelled from Cork city to Skibbereen to deal with the case.‘He is still drinking and is on disability benefit because he needs crutches to walk,’ said the solicitor.

With the assistance of an interpreter, the accused told Judge Joanne Carroll that doctors have been unable to diagnose the problem other than to say it is an issue with his hip

. The judge noted that the accused has been on a probation bond since September, and she urged him to avail of the assistance of the probation service in dealing with his alcohol addiction and housing needs.

Judge Carroll imposed the suspended sentence for handling stolen goods, and marked the theft charge proven but taken into consideration.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.