This article is from page 17 of the 2014-04-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
A TEENAGER who offloaded a stolen guitar to a pawnshop in Limerick has been told keep his bib clean or face a lengthy prison sentence.
Judge Patrick Durcan issued the warning to Karl Haugh at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.
He told the 18 year old he was facing length prison spell if got into any more trouble before July.
Mr Haugh, with an address at Oakwood Drive, Watery Road, Ennis, pleaded guilty to handling a stolen Navarro electric guitar at Oakwood Drive, Ennis on November 16, 2013.
Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court the guitar valued at € 750 was stolen from a car parked outside a home in Oakwood Drive.
The court heard the guitar was tendered for € 120 by Mr Haugh at a Cash Express outlet in Limerick City.
The court heard Mr Haugh only received € 20 from the sale.
Insp Kennedy said Mr Haugh denied the theft of the guitar but admitted tendering it for cash.
He told the court the offence was committed while Mr Haugh was subject to a 12-month probation bond.
Defence solicitor John Casey said his client was part of a gang in Ennis. Mr Casey said gardaí accepted Mr Haugh was a “minor operative”.
Mr Casey told the court his client had nothing to do with stealing the guitar but was the “idiot” who walked in front of the Cash Express security cameras holding the stolen item.
He said Mr Haugh has since broken away from the group.
Mr Haugh told Judge Durcan he went into the shop because he was the only one in the group who had a passport.
He said he had written a letter of apology to the guitar owner. “I keep putting myself in bad situations”, he added.
The Judge said that given the offence was committed while Mr Haugh was on probation; it was his view the accused deserved a custodial sentence.
Mr Casey said his client’s behaviour may have been driven by an “element of fear of other parties”.
He told the court that if Mr Haugh goes to prison he would lose his place on a Youthreach education programme.
Judge Durcan adjourned the case for a brief period, saying he had a six-month prison sentence in mind.
When the case resumed, Mr Casey told Judge Durcan the adjournment had left Mr Haugh “sweaty”.
“He is very, very uncomfortable”, he added.
Judge Durcan said he was willing to adjourn sentencing to July 2 when Mr Haugh has completed the Youthreach programme.
He told the teenager if he committed any more offences, he would be off for a “lengthy spell”.
“You keep your bib clean sonny”, added Judge Durcan.