‘Put yourself in the victims shoes’ – Judge tells teenager who stole purse from pram

By Brendan Grehan

A TEENAGER who stole a purse from a pram was asked to examine the consequences of his action by Tallaght Court.

Hearing that the 17-year-old had stolen a woman’s purse, Judge Patricia McNamara told the teenager: “Do you realise that you could have taken the woman’s money for food for the week.

 

“Imagine if that happened to your mother. How would you feel about it. You are going to have to look at the consequences of your actions and put yourself in the victims shoes.”

The teenager, who has an address in Rathfarnham, pleaded guilty to stealing a purse from a pram in Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Rathfarnham, on March 21, 2016.

The court heard that on March 21 last, the teenager was observed taking a purse from a pram.

The teenager was then confronted by the owner of the purse and it was returned to her.

The teenager’s solicitor, Michael Hennessy, said it had been an “opportunistic” crime. He said the purse was returned to the owner within 30 seconds.

Sergeant Michael Ahern said the teenager had two previous convictions.

At Tallaght District Court on November 4 last, he had been placed on a 12-month Probation Order for two counts for possession of items for use in theft.

Mr Hennessy said the teenager had been sitting in a café in the shopping centre having a coffee and was sitting beside the pram.

Mr Hennessy said the teenager saw the purse at the top of the pram and took it and put it in his pocket.

He said the owner returned, saw the purse was gone and it was returned to her when she confronted the teenager.

Judge McNamara told the teenager: “Do you realise that you could have taken the woman’s money for food for the week.

Imagine if that happened to your mother. How would you feel about it. You are going to have to look at the consequences of your actions and put yourself in the victims shoes.”

She remanded the teenager on continuing bail for a month for a probation report.