It was discovered the rear passenger window had been smashed and the owner discovered Christmas presents containing gifts, clothing and cosmetics had been stolen
Outside of the Crown Court at Laganside in Belfast(Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
A Belfast man who carried out a “mean and nasty theft” of Christmas presents from a car was jailed on Friday for eight months.
Judge Catherine Chasemore told Joseph Patrick Thomas McClenaghan he will spend a further eight months on supervised licence on his release from prison.
McClenaghan, 49, of Stanfield Row, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of theft, receiving stolen goods and two counts of criminal damage.
He further admitted two offences of possessing a blade or a point in a public place.
Belfast Crown Court heard that police received a report just after 10 pm on January 1, 2025, from a resident in Castleboy Avenue in south Belfast that he was at home when he heard a “bang”.
A prosecution lawyer said: “He went to investigate and noticed the front door of his house was ajar and when he went into the kitchen he noticed a male he did not know rummaging through a number of metal drawers.
“It appeared to him that the intruder was under the influence of drink or drugs and was mumbling. The householder told him to leave which he did. The defendant is not charged with burglary as it is not suggested he was the person in the house.”
The resident noted a number of items missing which included two knives, a multi-tool, a pair of sewing scissors and a passport belonging to another person in the house.
The court heard that the following day police received a report in the early hours of the morning that a car had been broken into outside a house on the Ormeau Road in south Belfast.
It was discovered the rear passenger window had been smashed and the owner discovered Christmas presents containing gifts, clothing and cosmetics had been stolen.
“The injured party and his wife believed the perpetrator was still in the vicinity and was standing in a nearby alleyway,” said the prosecutor.
“The defendant was arrested by police and he was carrying two bags containing stolen Christmas presents. A two further bags containing Christmas presents were discovered in a wheelie bin in an alleyway along with an envelope containing £300 in cash.”
The defendant was arrested and searched and was found to have kitchen knives on his person along with a passport in the name of a resident in Castleboy Avenue taken the previous day.
McClenaghan was charged with receiving the stolen items from Castleboy Avenue and theft of the items from the car.
He was also charged with causing criminal damage to the car window. The defendant was later released on bail but was further charged with causing up to £150 in criminal damage to a G4S electronic tag.
Belfast Crown Court heard McClenaghan has an “extremely lengthy criminal record” of 240 previous convictions.
They include 15 convictions for criminal damage, 20 entries for theft and one for possessing an offensive weapon.
A pre-sentence report said McClenaghan was assessed as a high likelihood of reoffending and had ongoing issues with drugs and alcohol.
The court heard McClenaghan is currently a sentenced prisoner serving time for another matter and is not due for release until October 31 this year.
Judge Chasemore said the main aggravating feature was McClenaghan’s “substantial criminal record” for similar type offending.
Sentencing McClenaghan, Judge Chasemore said: “Stealing Christmas presents and Christmas cards from a car is a particularly mean and nasty offence.”
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