A man was put up to thefts from a city shop because he had gambling debts, his solicitor told Galway District Court.
The man, originally from Algeria, is three years in Ireland but is currently in prison serving a seven-month sentence. Annius Tallette, formerly of Great Western Hostel, Galway, pleaded guilty to two theft charges which brings his conviction total to 12, mainly for thefts.
His solicitor Sean Acton pleaded that his client was finding prison very difficult as he was a foreigner and did not know anyone in there.
He said Tallette was put up to these latest thefts by those he owed gambling debts to. He admitted his client drank to excess on occasion.
Judge Valerie Corcoran heard at Galway District Court that the defendant…