Man who stole bank card and used it in Cork city jailed for ‘mean offences’

“Mean and rotten offences” saw a 44-year-old man being jailed for one year at Cork District Court.

That was how Judge Mary Dorgan described the case against John Paul Thornton of Blackwater Grove, Togher, Cork.

Sergeant John Dineen said the defendant stole a bank card in a break-in to a car and then used the card to make a number of purchases, unknown to the owner.

“They were mean and rotten offences to use the card belonging to the man,” said Judge Dorgan.

The judge imposed an eight-month sentence with a consecutive four-month term on the accused.

Sgt Dineen said the motorist parked his car at Capwell Rd, Cork, on October 11, 2024, at around 6pm.

He said that property was missing from the car when the man returned four hours later.

The bank notified the owner of suspicious activity on his card that night.

This included purchases worth €27 and €24 at Centra, South Douglas Rd, Cork, and one worth €46 at SuperValu in the Lough shopping centre.

The accused had a total of 164 previous convictions, including for several thefts and robberies.