‘Obsessive’ stealing leads to jail sentence

A kleptomaniac was jailed for seven months yesterday for multiple counts of shop-lifting at outlets in Cork City.

Jonathan O’Sullivan, of 30 Fairfield Avenue, Farranree, Cork, pleaded guilty to counts of theft that ranged from stealing an iPhone 5 at Jacque’s restaurant on Oliver Plunkett St on September 20, 2014, to stealing a flask from Hickey’s on Maylor St on Tuesday this week.

Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said unlike many people coming before the courts who shoplifted to raise money for drugs, that was not the case with O’Sullivan. Mr Buttimer categorised his client as a kleptomaniac.

O’Sullivan told his solicitor that he was obsessive and compulsive about stealing things and took them without wanting them; he saw something unattended and felt he had to steal it.

Insp Finbarr O’Sullivan said the spate of thefts by O’Sullivan saw him stealing €1,540 worth of goods and cash. His crimes included the theft of a handbag from the counter at Butler’s café on Oliver Plunkett St four days before Christmas and the theft of other items from premises including Webworks café on Winthrop St and from stores including Boots on Half Moon St, The Athlete’s Foot sports store on Oliver Plunkett St , and Wild West Wings restaurant on Washington St.

Judge Leo Malone imposed an overall sentence of seven months.