Courts / Dublin / Report
'Cokehead' jumped into council litter van and took it on high speed ride
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 11 February 2025, Jamie Reid, aged 33, pleaded guilty to endangerment, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and without a licence after he jumped into an idling council litter van on Parliament Street and drove it at high speed through the capital. Reid, who later admitted he was a "cokehead", drove erratically, broke red lights, and pursued by gardaí. The pursuit ended when the van crashed through a level‑crossing barrier at Sutton, striking a woman who was running and causing her leg injuries. Reid himself also suffered leg injuries. He has 39 prior convictions and was sentenced to three years and nine months' imprisonment, with a five‑year driving disqualification, and the sentence was back‑dated to July 2024. No serious injuries were reported among the gardaí involved.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Cokehead' jumped into council litter van and took it on high speed ride. Charges or matters: one count of endangerment, three counts of dangerous driving, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving without a licence in various locations in Dublin on May 30, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 30, 2024 Incident
- July 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-02-11 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of endangerment, three counts of dangerous driving, one count of driving without insurance and one count of driving without a licence in various locations in Dublin on May 30, 2024 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan today jailed Reid for three years and nine months, noting he had endangered "quite a few people" including gardaí, pedestrians and other road users.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Parliament Street
- Dublin
- Newbrook Avenue
- Donaghmede
- Dublin
- Station Road
Topics
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