Kildare court defendant with 143 previous convictions is jailed

An eight-month custodial sentence was imposed on a Kildare man for a theft offence.

Judge Desmond Zaidan made the decision at Naas District Court on Thursday, January 11 last.

He made the verdict in the case of John Collins, with an address listed as 94 Hazelmere in Naas, but who is currently remanded in custody.

Gardaí told the judge that on December 9, 2022, the 40-year-old stole €50 from a handbag located in a car parked outside a supermarket in Kilcock.

Mr Collins pleaded guilty to the offence.

It was heard that the car was not damaged during the course of the theft.

Gardaí told Judge Zaidan that Mr Collins has a total of 143 previous convictions, with 40 of them consisting of convictions over theft offences.

Defending barrister Donncha Craddock told the judge that his client is serving a custodial sentence for a separate offence, and is due for release in July of this year.

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Judge Zaidan asked Mr Craddock: "Will he ever change his ways?" to which Mr Craddock replied that his client is a drug addict.

However, he added that since he has entered into custody, he has been attending drug counselling and is now sober.

"My client has little memory of the incident," Mr Craddock added.

He also said that Mr Collins is currently seeking to undertake an educational programme in the prison.

Lastly, Mr Craddock pointed to his client's guilty plea, the lack of violence or aggression used in the offence, and the fact that his client has little memory of the event.

Judge Zaidan ultimately decided to impose an eight-month custodial sentence on Mr Collins.