Courts / Wicklow / Report
Driver of stolen jeep jailed after failing to engage with probation services
Summary
Joseph Bonass, 19, was sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment for unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving without a licence in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020. Judge Elma Sheahan suspended the final 18 months of his sentence on strict conditions, requiring him to attend all Probation Service appointments for two years post-release. Bonass pleaded guilty and has no previous convictions. The judge noted with surprise that Bonass failed to engage with the Probation Service during a previous adjournment intended for that purpose. Co-accused Jordan Carroll, 21, pleaded guilty to endangering traffic, criminal damage, and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle on the same dates. Carroll, who has 34 previous convictions, was previously sentenced in April 2021 to four and a half years imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. The incidents involved a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser driven dangerously on the N11 and M11, during which Carroll threw gardening equipment from the vehicle. The pursuit ended when the jeep crashed into two garda patrol cars. Judge Sheahan stated that no injuries were sustained by luck and emphasized the risk posed to first responders. Both defendants were intoxicated at the time of arrest.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Driver of stolen jeep jailed after failing to engage with probation services. Charges or matters: unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence at various locations in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020; endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle at various locations in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on the same dates. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 16 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2021 Incident
- 2022-02-28 Publication
Case subjects
Co Accused
Charges: unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence at various locations in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020; endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle at various locations in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on the same dates (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: At a previous sentencing hearing in April 2021, Judge Sheahan sentenced Carroll to four and a half years imprisonment but suspended the final 12 months of the sentence on strict conditions.; Judge Elma Sheahan she had previously adjourned sentencing Bonass to allow him to engage with the Probation Service, so it came "with great surprise" when she found out he had failed to engage when offered a chance do to so.
Accused
Charges: unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle, criminal damage, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a licence at various locations in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on June 16 and 17, 2020; endangering traffic, criminal damage and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle at various locations in Co Wicklow and Co Dublin on the same dates (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Sheahan sentenced Bonass to three and a half years imprisonment but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including that he attend all appointments with the Probation Service for two years post release.; Judge Elma Sheahan she had previously adjourned sentencing Bonass to allow him to engage with the Probation Service, so it came "with great surprise" when she found out he had failed to engage when offered a chance do to so.
Places mentioned
- Lindisfarne Park
Topics
Road Traffic Stage Sentence Theft
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