Friday 30 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 13951Theft · Co. Laois · 29 Sep 2023

Prolific offender jailed for stealing from vans in Laois

Stefan Scurtu, a 45-year-old Romanian man, is reported to have stolen tools, cash and other items from vehicles and a property in Abbeyleix, Co Laois, starting on 29 September 2023. He pleaded guilty at Portlaoise District Court to theft and interfering with vehicle charges. Judge Susan Fay sentenced him to a total of 22 months, to commence on completion of his current sentence, and fixed recognisance in case of appeal. The sentence was reported on 17 April 2025, the latest development in the case.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Stefan Scurtu took €1,400 in cash, a Dewalt grinder, five batteries, a mini grinder, a cordless drill and tools worth €1,480.
  • He stole a bank card and a chainsaw valued at €250 from a property at Fairways, Abbeyleix.
Where
  • He stole tools worth over €8,000 from a vehicle at Balladine Heights, Abbeyleix, between 29 and 30 September 2023.
  • One version gives the dates for the cash and other items as 29 to 31 September 2023, while another gives 29 to 30 September 2023 for the tools.
  • He interfered with a vehicle at Sli Na Noir, Abbeyleix, on 30 September 2023.
When
The incident date is recorded as 29 September 2023.
Investigation
He broke into five vehicles and took items from all but one of them.
Charges
Stefan Scurtu pleaded guilty at Portlaoise District Court to theft and interfering with vehicle charges.
In court
Judge Fay fixed recognisance in case of appeal.
Sentence
Judge Susan Fay sentenced him to a total of 22 months, to commence on completion of his current sentence.
Other details
  • Gardaí said he had 71 previous convictions, all relating to theft.
  • A victim impact statement from one of the victims of the Laois thefts was handed in.
  • His solicitor said he was a prolific offender who pleaded guilty at an early stage and cooperated with gardaí.
  • His solicitor said he was serving a sentence with a release date in May 2026 and was a Romanian national who had been in Ireland for four years and worked in construction.
  • The judge said the case was at the very upper end of district court jurisdiction in terms of severity.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatHe took €1,400 in cash, a Dewalt grinder, five batteries, a mini grinder, a cordless drill and tools worth €1,480. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatHe stole a bank card and a chainsaw valued at €250 from a property at Fairways, Abbeyleix. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereHe stole tools worth over €8,000 from a vehicle at Balladine Heights, Abbeyleix, between 29 and 30 September 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereHe interfered with a vehicle at Sli Na Noir, Abbeyleix, on 30 September 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationHe had broken into five vehicles and taken items from all but one of them. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • chargeStefan Scurtu pleaded guilty to theft and interfering with vehicle charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Fay fixed recognisance in case of appeal. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Susan Fay sentenced him to a total of 22 months, to commence on completion of his current sentence. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherGardaí said he had 71 previous convictions, all relating to theft. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherA victim impact statement from one of the victims of the Laois thefts was handed in. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said Scurtu was a prolific offender who pleaded guilty at an early stage and cooperated with gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he was serving a sentence with a release date in May 2026. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherHis solicitor said he was a Romanian national who had been in Ireland for four years and worked in construction. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge said the case was at the very upper end of district court jurisdiction in terms of severity. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Apr2025
    Sentencedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    ‘Prolific offender’ jailed for stealing from vans in Laois

    Sentencing report for a 2023 Laois van and vehicle theft case with a different defendant, location and date from existing case 13347 (Leitrim, May 2023), so it is not the same incident.

    convicted, Stefan Scurtu, 45, male, Romanian, named, non-irishStefan Scurtu