A man who pleaded guilty to theft on two separate occasions at Dunnes Stores, Oldtown, Letterkenny has been given 40 hours of community service. 
Paul O'Brien, 44, of Isleway House, Larkin's Lane, Letterkenny appeared at Letterkenny District Court this morning.
The court heard how O'Brien was arrested on the 26th of September outside Dunnes Stores, Oldtown, Letterkenny.
The defendant had stolen a 1 litre bottle of Smirnoff Vodka and a packet of Wilkinson razor blades.
Gardaí quickly identified that Mr O'Brien had also carried out a similar theft which was reported on August 16th 2015.
On that occasion he had stolen a bottle of vodka, a two-litre bottle of Coca-Cola and some ham.
He pleaded guilty to both offences and admitted to being extremely intoxicated.
Solicitor for the defendant Frank Dorrian said his client was originally from England, but had been living in Ireland since he was n his 20s.
He was a butcher by trade, but has been unemployed for quite some time.
Mr Dorrian stressed that during his period of unemployment he became addicted to alcohol and that alcohol was the determining factor in him carrying out the thefts.
Mr Dorrian also added that he completely penniless and lived on his own and lead a quiet life.
He had a pervious conviction for larceny dating back to 1999.
Judge Paul Kelly imposed a community service order for 40 hours in lieu of two months imprisonment.