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Criminal with 161 previous convictions has 'crushing' six-year jail term reduced
Summary
Jonathan Grimes, aged 33, had a six‑year jail term reduced to four years after a Court of Appeal decision. He had 161 prior convictions and was on bail for a burglary at the Irish Whiskey Museum when he stole a €300 tablet. He then committed two burglaries at Bewley's café on Grafton Street, stealing a cash belt and later a bottle of gin and a €1,500 laptop. He pleaded guilty to all three offences. Judge Elma Sheahan had originally sentenced him to four years for the museum burglary and three and four years for the café burglaries, with the last two years suspended, giving a net six‑year term. The appeal argued the museum sentence was too harsh and that mitigating factors such as substance misuse and a 10‑year‑old son had been overlooked.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Criminal with 161 previous convictions has 'crushing' six-year jail term reduced. Charges or matters: burglary at the Irish Whiskey Museum, Grafton Street, Dublin, on February 8, 2019; two burglaries at Bewley's on Grafton Street on February 23, 2019 and March 6, 2019 respectively. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 8, 2019 Incident
- February 23, 2019 Incident
- March 6, 2019 Incident
- 2021-06-08 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: burglary at the Irish Whiskey Museum, Grafton Street, Dublin, on February 8, 2019; two burglaries at Bewley's on Grafton Street on February 23, 2019 and March 6, 2019 respectively (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced Grimes to four years imprisonment for the museum burglary. She also sentenced him to three years imprisonment and four years imprisonment respectively for the two cafe burglaries, which she ordered to run concurrent to each other, but consecutive to the museum sentence.
Places mentioned
- Rutland Street
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Grafton Street
Topics
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