Computer stolen from friend

Andrew Stuart Michael Burns (22), of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to stealing a laptop and two games’ consoles from a house in the Waterside on February 6 last.

Burns handed himself into police a couple of days after the incident and also handed over the laptop to officers.

The two games consoles were recovered from a city centre shop a short time later.

A defence solicitor told the court Burns stole the computer equipment when he lost his mobile phone in the injured party's home.

He added that the 22-year-old then felt guilty about it and handed himself into the police.

Deferring sentence until May 7, District Judge Barney McElholm said it was a “bizarre” case.

“In a fit of pique, he appears to have blamed this householder for the loss of his phone, stole the items, sold two of them and then walked into the police and says: ’ “Here I am, I did it’.”

The judge said he would give Burns an opportunity to stop offending and to pay restitution to the electrical shop.

He warned Burns if he committed any other offences or did not pay the money back, “I can assure you, you will get a custodial sentence.”