Thief 'made mistake' stealing €440 goods
A SERIAL thief who stole perfume and jewellery from a department store in Blanchardstown because she had no money to buy her children gifts for Christmas has been given a six-month suspended sentence.
Grace Muvingi (38), who has 11 previous convictions for theft, made a "foolish mistake" Blanchardstown District Court heard.
Muvingi, of St Margaret's Road, Hampton Wood in Finglas, pleaded guilty to the theft of €440 worth of jewellery and perfume from Debenhams department store at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on December 28 last year - three days after Christmas Day.
Garda Mark Quill gave evidence that Muvingi went into the department store at around 4pm and selected jewellery and perfume before concealing the items on her person. She was observed by security staff. All of the items were recovered.
Muvingi's solicitor explained that the defendant is originally from Zimbabwe and moved to Ireland in 2004.
foolish
He said as it was the Christmas period, Muvingi was struggling for money and had not been able to purchase any Christmas gifts for her children. "It was a foolish mistake," the solicitor said.
Judge David McHugh said he was handing Muvingi a six-month suspended sentence because she has previous convictions of similar nature and because he believes "she hasn't made up her mind that she cannot continue stealing".