Man jailed for stealing £400 of belongings from passenger on train

Michael Daniels rifled through the woman’s suitcase during a cross-border rail trip last summer.

Daniels, 30, also took goods valued at more than £500 in two separate raids on Tesco stores.

He was sentenced to three months imprisonment after admitting three counts of theft.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard the train passenger’s bag was ransacked in the luggage compartment of the Dublin to Belfast service on August 15 last year.

Prosecutors said £400 in personal items was stolen and never recovered.

Daniels, of Derryveagh Drive in Belfast, was connected by DNA on a lighter in the victim’s baggage.

He was circulated as wanted at the time, but only detained in February while allegedly in possession of a quantity of Methadone.

District Judge Mark McGarrity heard Daniels also twice targeted Tesco shops.

During the first incident last December he stole four bottles of alcohol and five packets of razor blades worth £155.

In April this year he tried to walk out the fire exit of a store on Belfast’s Lisburn Road with a trolley full of shopping valued at £419.

He admitted a further charge of disorderly behaviour by shouting abuse at police who detained him at the scene.

Defence solicitor Philip Breen detailed Daniels’ history of heroin addiction and periods of homelessness.

“He knows he’s going to be serving some time (in custody),” the lawyer added.

Imposing three months in jail, Mr McGarrity also ordered Daniels to pay £400 compensation to the train passenger.