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Woman awoke to find crack addict standing in her bedroom with foot long knife
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Thomas Locke, 26, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment after breaking into a woman's apartment on 31 October 2018. Locke, who was on bail for a prior offence, entered the bedroom with a foot‑long knife, told the woman to leave the bed, and claimed he would not harm her. He smoked in her kitchen, asked about money, and together they went to a petrol station where the woman withdrew €300 for him. Locke threatened to "cut her" if she told anyone. He was identified through CCTV and fingerprints on the fridge. Locke had 68 prior convictions and was already in custody since 26 November. The judge, citing his guilty plea, remorse, addiction, and past record, sentenced him to five years imprisonment, crediting time already served. The sentence is to commence after the completion of his earlier 12‑month term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman awoke to find crack addict standing in her bedroom with foot long knife. Charges or matters: aggravated burglary and false imprisonment at St James's Court, Mount Brown, on 31 October, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- 31 October Incident
- November 26 Incident
- September 23, 2018 Incident
- October 31, 2018 Incident
- 2019-10-23 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: aggravated burglary and false imprisonment at St James's Court, Mount Brown, on 31 October, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan previously sentenced Locke to 12 months imprisonment for charges of theft and assault at Coleman's Shop, Westmoreland Street, on September 23, 2018. He sentenced him to five years imprisonment, to date from the completion of the 12 months sentence previously imposed.
Places mentioned
- Ramillies Road
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Westmoreland Street
Topics
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