Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial thief "unwittingly" driven to crime scene by taxi driver

Summary

A man has entered guilty pleas to a series of shop robberies at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, having been driven to multiple crime scenes by a taxi driver unaware of his passenger's intentions. Dean Gray, aged 30 and of Buttercup Drive, Darndale, Dublin, pleaded guilty to robbery and knife production at XL Flintstones in Baldoyle on 21 May 2017, where he took €350. He also admitted robbing €425 from Petmania at Gulliver's Retail Park using a screwdriver on 17 March 2018, and two robberies from Tan Me salon on New Cabra Road totalling €500 on 12 March and 10 April 2018. Gray further pleaded guilty to robbing €200 from Centz on North Circular Road on 14 March 2018 and an attempted robbery with threats at Spar, Harts Corner, on 10 April 2018. Evidence indicated he made no effort to conceal his identity during any incident. The court heard Gray has 69 previous convictions including 21 robberies, and that his offences were motivated by drug addiction. The case was adjourned to late November for sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial thief "unwittingly" driven to crime scene by taxi driver. Charges or matters: robbing €200 from Centz shop on North Circular Road on March 14, 2018 and attempted robbery, threats to kill and producing an article at Spar, Harts Corner, Dublin 9, on April 10, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• May 21, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 17, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• March 12, 2018 Other
• April 10, 2018 Other
• March 14, 2018 Other
• April 10 Other
• 2018-10-26 Publication

Why: Mr Monaghan submitted to Judge Patricia Ryan that his client had had a difficult upbringing and was in a vicious circle of homelessness, drug abuse and criminality to fund his addiction. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

• Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
• Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
• Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
• 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
• Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
• 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'

Read the original CNI report