Had stolen phones worth €3,500 at Electric Picnic

A delivery driver caught with drugs and €3,500 of stolen phones at Electric Picnic was given a suspended sentence. 

Rusu Rostas, 26, of 18 Fortunestown Close, Tallaght, Dublin 24 was charged with five counts of possessing stolen property at the Electric Picnic in Stradbally between September 4 and 5 last. He was also charged with possessing cocaine on September 5.

Sgt JJ Kirby said the man was found in possession of five stolen mobile phones worth €700 each. The devices were returned to their owners, he told the court. When arrested, “he had cocaine valued at €40 in his possession,” said Sgt Kirby. He said the defendant “had no previous except two minor for road traffic” offences. 

Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client was a Romanian national who has been living in Ireland for six years. “He works as a delivery driver earning €350 per week,” he told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court. 

Mr Meagher said his client had travelled to the festival with a number of acquaintances and one of the group became involved in taking items. Mr Meagher said this individual gave him the phones. “He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with them,” said Mr Meagher.

He noted the phones were “thankfully recovered in an undamaged state.”

Mr Meagher said his client wasn’t a habitual drug user and is very anxious over the matter. “He has worn a path to my office since the prosecution has arisen,” he said.  The man wishes to express his apologies and “has no previous for anything like this,” he added. 

Judge Andrew Cody said young people are entitled to go to the Electric Picnic to enjoy themselves without having their property stolen. 

He sentenced the man to three months in prison and suspended the sentence for five years. He took the drug possession charge into consideration and ordered the man not to attend the Electric Picnic or any other music festival in Laois.