Thief with 51 convictions told by judge 'what you are doing in this country is outrageous'

Ionut Muti (29) was jailed for three months for his latest theft, when he shoplifted €200 worth of clothes.

Judge Joanne Carroll suspended another three months, telling him he had to live by “the laws of the land”.

Muti, a Romanian national with an address at a Dublin hostel, pleaded guilty.

Dublin District Court heard he stole €200 worth of clothing from Lifestyle Sports on Henry Street on May 17, 2021.

Gardaí saw him running away, followed by a shop worker before jumping a barrier at a pub.

Muti had 51 previous theft convictions.

Judge Carroll noted the accused ran from the gardaí and then gave a false name. He had not repaid the €200 loss.

Muti came to Ireland looking for work in 2015 but fell into homelessness before being introduced to drugs, his solicitor Stephen O’Mahony said.

Ireland was a “great country” that offered people opportunities, Judge Carroll said.

“He does not seem to understand that people in this country are out there trying to make an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work,” she said.

“The last thing they need is someone coming in and stealing their merchandise and not making good the loss.

“What you are doing in this country is outrageous,” the judge told Muti.