Courts / Dublin / Report

Rapist gets extra jail time for assaulting, threatening gardai

Date
2017-06-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

John Gavin, 29, had his prison term extended by one year after he was found in possession of €1,454 in coins taken from a cash‑in‑transit robbery and after threatening Gardaí while on bail awaiting a rape trial. He was convicted of possession of stolen property and of making threats to Garda Karen Caswell and Sergeant Noel Smith, and of assaulting Smith, who was injured when Gavin punched him. Gavin, who has 103 previous convictions and was already serving a six‑year sentence for a 2012 rape, was sentenced by Judge Martin Nolan to a consecutive one‑year term for the new offences. The judge noted Gavin's mental difficulties and that he had been surprised by the Gardaí, but confirmed he understood his actions were wrong. The sentence was imposed as consecutive to his existing term. John Gavin pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Rapist gets extra jail time for assaulting, threatening gardai. Charges or matters: possession of stolen property; making threats to Gda Caswell and Sergeant Noel Smith and to assaulting Sgt Smith causing him harm at the halting site on November 9, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

November 9, 2016 Incident
2017-06-15 Publication

Why: About one hour later Gda Caswell and Sgt Smith attended at Gavin's caravan because they believed that a man they wished to caution in relation to a high court bail matter may be in his company. CNI source report

Case subjects

John Gavin

Defendant

Charges: possession of stolen property; making threats to Gda Caswell and Sergeant Noel Smith and to assaulting Sgt Smith causing him harm at the halting site on November 9, 2016 (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; He noted that Gavin was on bail and any sentence must be consecutive to his current term. He imposed a one year sentence consecutive to the rape sentence.