Thief wore stolen Ray Bans out of store and ran into garda outside

• 3h ago

A shoplifter who walked out of a store wearing a stolen pair of designer sunglasses met a garda on patrol outside and was arrested.

Stuart Smart (34) stole the €175 Ray Bans while he was out of work after losing his job delivering blood to hospitals.

Judge Ciaran Liddy adjourned the case and said he would strike it out if Mr Smart made a €250 charity donation.

Mr Smart, of Verschoyle Crescent, Saggart Abbey, pleaded guilty to theft at Sunglasses Hut, Liffey Valley on February 13.

Blanchardstown District Court heard he tried a pair of sunglasses on and left the store making no attempt to pay. A garda happened to be on patrol and met the accused outside.

Smart had previous motoring convictions but none for theft.

The accused had lost his job after he crashed his car and it was completely destroyed, his solicitor said. He was also injured in the crash.

Events took a “dismal turn” for him and he found himself out  of work and not in his right frame of mind, the court heard.

He was still in shock when he carried out the theft in a “drastic step” that was “extremely out of character,” his solicitor said.