Woman convicted of stealing iPhone and trying to sell it told she is on her 'last chance' at Derry court
A woman has been told she is on her ‘last chance’ as she appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with stealing an iPhone and attempting to sell it via false representation.
Eileen Stokes (41) of Mourne Park in Newtonstewart in Co. Tyrone was charged won July 24 last year with taking a phone valued at £1,200 that had been reported stolen.
The owner of the phone had tracked it's location and traced it to a shop where staff said two woman had tried to sell it for £40.
The phone was returned to it's owner and Stokes was arrested.
Defence Barrister Grainne McAnaney said that Stokes claimed to have found the phone on a wall while noting that she had a 'very bad string of offences' of a similar nature from various shops.
District Judge Ted Magill questioned the point in granting probation, stating that Stokes has 'demonstrated she cannot stop offending' even when it has been granted in the past.
Ms McAnaney said that Stokes is an alcoholic but District Judge Magill said that she claims not to drink anymore.
He sentenced Stokes to eighteen months probation, telling her it was her 'last chance'.
He also re-suspended an earlier suspended sentence, telling her she was at the 'absolute end of the road'.