‘EASILY LED’ | 

Dublin man (48) stole groceries due to ‘peer pressure’, court hears

Larter had been with a person who he “considered to be a bit of a comrade” and he was “easily led”, the court was told.

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A man shoplifted groceries from a supermarket because of “peer pressure”, his defence said.

Desmond Larter (48) then gave investigating gardaí false personal details because he suffered from anxiety and “panicked”.

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

Larter, of Mount Olive Road, Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty to theft, public intoxication and giving gardaí false details.

Dublin District Court heard the accused went to Centra at Harbour Road, Howth, on July 5 this year. He took €54 worth of items and left without making any attempt to pay.

arter was very unsteady on his feet when gardaí stopped him nearby, carrying a bag with the stolen goods.

He gave them false details and was arrested. The property was returned to the shop in a saleable condition. “Despite his age, there was an element of peer pressure,” defence solicitor Peter Keatings said.

Larter had been with a person who he “considered to be a bit of a comrade” and he was “easily led”, the court was told.

He’d had a number of drinks and “this isn’t something that would be common for him to do”. “It might have been suggested to him to see could they manage to do this [steal],” Mr Keatings said.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​