Corkman jailed for trying to use bank card stolen from woman's handbag

The woman's bank card was stolen by another man as she loaded shopping into the boot of her car outside a shopping centre

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a six-month prison sentence on Timmy O’Shea. File picture

A woman loading shopping into the boot of her car outside a shopping centre had her handbag stolen by a man who got into the front of her car and ran away with it.

A short time later a 43-year-old man tried to use the card to buy items at another shop and he was identified on CCTV.

Timmy O’Shea of 14 St. Michael’s Close, Mahon, Cork, pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen bank card from the handbag.

Mr O’Shea had 144 previous convictions including several for handling stolen property and 18 for carrying out thefts.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the incident occurred on October 21, 2022, at Tesco, Wilton, and later, attempts were made to use the stolen card at Londis, Washington Street, Cork.

The injured party was putting her shopping into the boot of her car at Tesco in Wilton when a man entered the front passenger seat and took her handbag.

Contained in the handbag was her purse which contained her bank card.

“A short time later she received a notification that there were three attempts to withdraw €100 from an ATM and use it at Londis on Washington Street.

Gardaí later obtained CCTV from this premises and the man trying to use the stolen bank card was identified as 43-year-old Timmy O’Shea.

Sentencing

Judge Mary Dorgan imposed a six-month prison sentence on him.

Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke said: “He suffers quite a lot of medical difficulties which makes his custodial sentences a lot harder for him than for other prisoners. He is getting help with his addictions while in custody.” 

Judge Dorgan backdated the jail sentence to February 19 as the accused was in custody on the charge since then.