Stole a jackhammer — "serve about five years": a hardened repeat offender was tried in Korabelnyi

Korabelnyi District Court of Mykolaiv at the end of April 2026 issued an verdict in a case of theft committed during martial law by a man previously convicted three times (for other thefts and for possession of narcotic substances).

The incident occurred on 17.02.2024 at about 16:00 in an apartment where the accused Pavlo B. took advantage of free access and stole a demolition hammer brand “Forte”. The 2300 W tool, worth 4260 hryvnias, belonged to Valentyn L. After committing the act, the offender fled the apartment with the hammer.

In court the defendant fully admitted his guilt and stated that he sincerely repents. His actions were qualified under Part 4 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — theft committed repeatedly and under martial law.

The victim did not appear at the hearing but filed a statement demanding compensation for the damages incurred and asked the court to impose punishment at its discretion.

The court took into account that Pavlo B. had previously had problems with the law: by the verdict of the Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv dated 29.02.2024 he was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment with a probationary period, but that decision was later overturned.

The court paid particular attention to the defendant’s behavior during the proceedings. He repeatedly ignored hearings, because of which he was declared wanted several times (06.09.2024, 20.11.2024, 28.02.2025); he was found, the case was resumed, but each time he disappeared again. Eventually, on 10.06.2025 he was detained and taken to a temporary detention facility, and later — to court.

As a result, Pavlo was sentenced for the theft of the hammer to imprisonment for 5 years.

Taking into account the previous verdict and the new circumstances, the court applied the rules for composing sentences. As a result, the final punishment imposed on the defendant was — 5 years 6 months of imprisonment. Court costs for an expert examination in the amount of 4165.14 hryvnias will also be recovered from him.

Reminder, earlier we wrote:

• In Mykolaiv a 53-year-old took a phone from a table and did not contest pre-trial detention
• “Bought something” without money: a homeless man took alcohol and tobacco from a store in Mykolaiv
• “Criminal genius” from Korabelnyi: climbed into someone else’s house through a window to earn 20 hryvnias
• Thieving raids on “Avrora”: a resident of Korabelnyi robbed two stores but avoided punishment
• In Mykolaiv a recidivist was convicted for thefts in beauty salons, cafes and a flower shop