Milk van theft turns sour for culprit

A MILKMAN’S day turned sour when he discovered that his milk van was stolen and yesterday the culprit was delivered with a suspended jail sentence.

Garda Patrick Coniry said the Dawn Dairies vehicle was parked on South Main Street, Cork, with the keys left in the ignition as the milkman left it momentarily to deliver milk to a premises. When he returned, he found the van gone.

Gardaí were alerted about the theft. For observant officers on duty at Clashduv Road it was a case of the milk truck floating past-your-eyes. The truck was driven against the red light at Sarsfield Road, but gardaí put a stop to it shortly afterwards.

John O’Driscoll, 26, living with his partner and child on Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, pleaded guilty.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin indicated that he would give him a chance in light of evidence that he appeared to be settling down since the incident on September 18, 2006.

The judge imposed a two-year sentence suspended on condition that he remains under the care of the probation service for two years.