Cork man with 182 previous convictions jailed after stealing Spiderman toothbrush and beef steak

A Spiderman electric toothbrush was stolen by a 40-year-old man with extensive previous convictions for theft and today he was jailed for four months.

As well as stealing the Spiderman Oral B electric toothbrush valued €55 at Sam McCauley’s chemist at Blackpool shopping centre on February 21 2024, the same man concealed eight packets of beef steak in his pants and under his top at Scally’s Supervalu on Skehard Road, Cork, more recently, on June 29 this year.

Daniel O’Donovan of 129 Mount Nebo Avenue, Gurranabraher, Cork, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to carrying out both offences.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the accused had a total of 182 previous convictions, of which 59 were for theft.

Frank Buttimer solicitor said the defendant got a number of jail sentences recently for mainly shoplifting offences, the longest being a term of 18 months with the last six months suspended.

After an exceptionally promising life in sport from a young age, he started drinking alcohol and this spiralled to drug difficulties that included heroin, and thefts were carried out in a desperate effort to fund his addictions.

Now serving his time in prison he is doing very well in terms of accessing services while in custody, Mr Buttimer said.

Judge Mary Dorgan agreed not to make today’s sentence consecutive to what he was already serving. The new sentence of four months will run concurrently with the longer term.