Lithuanian man gets nearly 3-year sentence for petty theft due to repeat offenses

A Lithuanian court has sentenced E. Volkov to nearly three years in prison for a theft involving a bottle of whiskey, a soda, and a pack of cigarettes, valued at €28.78. The relatively minor value of the stolen goods was overshadowed by the defendant's history, leading the court to classify him as a repeat offender.

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He has been convicted numerous times for property-related offenses, previously sentenced 17 times, the majority of which are related to offenses against property, property rights, and property interests. Furthermore, E. Volkov has also been convicted of crimes against human health, property destruction or damage, and offenses against the security of electronic data and information systems.

The court highlighted Volkov's record of 17 previous convictions, many of which were for property-related offenses. He had also been convicted for crimes against human health, property destruction, and offenses related to electronic data security. Judges noted that previous non-custodial sentences, such as restrictions on liberty and arrest, had proven ineffective in preventing further criminal activity.

During sentencing, the judges considered the purpose of punishment, aiming to deter the individual from future crimes and ensure justice. They found that Volkov, who is currently unemployed and has financial obligations, had not learned from past judgments. The court also pointed out that four other criminal cases involving alleged property crimes are currently pending against him.

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Lighter sentences would be inappropriate; the goals set forth in the criminal law can only be achieved by imposing a real prison sentence.

The court concluded that Volkov fails to draw proper conclusions from his behavior and disregards legal and societal norms. His criminal conduct is not considered accidental. Therefore, the judge determined that only a real prison sentence could achieve the goals of criminal law, emphasizing that systematic theft poses a threat to society, encourages the spread of criminal behavior, and causes material damage to victims. The sentence was deemed proportionate to the danger of the committed act.

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Although a prison sentence inevitably restricts personal freedom, when imposing a sentence, public interest must also be considered – systematic theft poses a threat to society, encourages the spread of criminal behavior, and causes material damage to victims.