BIG MIS-STEAK | 

Portuguese man caught stealing rucksack full of meat in Dundrum ‘was funding heroin habit’

Victor Goncalves (36) tried to leave the shop with a rucksack full of meat but was stopped

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A man who shoplifted more than €200 worth of meat was funding a drug addiction and “robbing Peter to pay Paul”, a court has heard.

Victor Goncalves (36) tried to leave the shop with a rucksack full of meat but was stopped.

Judge Bryan Smyth applied the Probation Act, leaving him without a criminal record.

Goncalves, from Portugal and of no fixed address in Ireland, pleaded guilty to theft.

Dublin District Court heard the accused went to Lidl in Dundrum Town Centre on February 16.

He put meat products worth a total of €212 into his rucksack and left without making any attempt to pay for them.

He was stopped by security, the goods were recovered and were saleable.

The accused was co-operative, made full admissions and had no previous convictions.

Goncalves had been in Ireland for five years and was working as a window fitter, his lawyer said. He became addicted to heroin and was “robbing Peter to pay Paul” at the time of the theft.

He took the meat to fund his addiction and “knew it was wrong”. He had since gone cold turkey and detoxed.

Judge Smyth dismissed the charge under the Probation Act after hearing Goncalves had spent time in custody on the charge.