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Two years for elf lingerie thief | |
(about 17 hours later) | |
A man who claimed he thought he was a female elf when he stole underwear from a Belfast shop at knifepoint, has been jailed for two years. | A man who claimed he thought he was a female elf when he stole underwear from a Belfast shop at knifepoint, has been jailed for two years. |
Robert Boyd, 45, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, held up staff at the Orchid shop on the Lisburn Road disguised in a wig, hat and glasses. | Robert Boyd, 45, from Broadlands in Carrickfergus, held up staff at the Orchid shop on the Lisburn Road disguised in a wig, hat and glasses. |
He told the court he had been in a role-playing game at the time and may have blurred reality and fantasy. | He told the court he had been in a role-playing game at the time and may have blurred reality and fantasy. |
Boyd stole bras, knickers, suspender belts and stockings worth £250. | Boyd stole bras, knickers, suspender belts and stockings worth £250. |
Before sentence was passed a lawyer for Boyd revealed that since the incident he had lost his job at Queen's University Belfast and both he and his wife had been subjected to ridicule. | Before sentence was passed a lawyer for Boyd revealed that since the incident he had lost his job at Queen's University Belfast and both he and his wife had been subjected to ridicule. |
The lawyer said he had been suffering from depression when the robbery happened in December 2005. | The lawyer said he had been suffering from depression when the robbery happened in December 2005. |
'Serious offence' | 'Serious offence' |
However, Belfast Crown Court Judge Patrick Lynch QC told the 45-year-old that while he may have "convoluted your character with that of Buho the elf" at the end of the day "I have to get back to the basics - it's a very serious offence with very serious consequences". | However, Belfast Crown Court Judge Patrick Lynch QC told the 45-year-old that while he may have "convoluted your character with that of Buho the elf" at the end of the day "I have to get back to the basics - it's a very serious offence with very serious consequences". |
The judge added: "The courts will not tolerate (armed robbery) and will clamp down upon it - you must take responsibility for your own actions." | The judge added: "The courts will not tolerate (armed robbery) and will clamp down upon it - you must take responsibility for your own actions." |
He also said the female member of staff, who was on her own in the shop at the time of the robbery, had been terrified. | He also said the female member of staff, who was on her own in the shop at the time of the robbery, had been terrified. |
"She said: 'He was standing there with a knife like a kitchen knife, standing there holding the knife towards me horizontally'," the judge said. | "She said: 'He was standing there with a knife like a kitchen knife, standing there holding the knife towards me horizontally'," the judge said. |
"She was not actually physically harmed by virtue of what occurred. But I have read the statement from the injured party and it's clear she has suffered mentally." | "She was not actually physically harmed by virtue of what occurred. But I have read the statement from the injured party and it's clear she has suffered mentally." |
Boyd was ordered to serve a further two years on probation after his prison sentence. | Boyd was ordered to serve a further two years on probation after his prison sentence. |
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