Courts / Dublin / Report

Man tried to rob post office as "joke" in effort to be sent back to prison

Date
2018-07-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

John Wheeler, 49, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to rob a post office on Botanic Road on 13 October 2017. He entered the shop with a plastic bag that concealed a sweeping brush, which he claimed was a gun. The post office owner, 72, heard a banging noise, checked a safe, and later saw Wheeler banging on the counter and demanding money. The owner pressed a panic button and called Garda Barry Brennan, who reviewed CCTV and identified Wheeler. Wheeler later admitted to the Garda that he had tried to rob the post office "as a joke" and had no intention to actually commit robbery. He denied having the brush during the attempt. Wheeler had 55 prior convictions, including assault, robbery, theft, larceny, forgery, dangerous driving and drunk driving. He was sentenced to four years, with 18 months suspended, for a final effective custodial term of two and a half years.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man tried to rob post office as "joke" in effort to be sent back to prison. Charges or matters: one count of attempting to rob a post office at Botanic Road, Dublin, on October 13, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 13, 2017 Incident
2018-07-27 Publication

Case subjects

John Wheeler

Defendant

Charges: one count of attempting to rob a post office at Botanic Road, Dublin, on October 13, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Baxter took into account Wheeler's co-operation, early guilty plea and his decent family background. "He is missing out on the milestones of normal existence", she said before imposing a four year sentence with the final 18 months suspended.