James Hawkins jailed for robbery of American student

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

James Hawkins was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years in prison for robbing an American student. Judge Orla Crowe suspended the final six months for two years and placed him under probation service supervision for 12 months. The proceedings were reported on 21 November 2024.

Hawkins, 24, of Ellis Quay Hostel, Dublin 7, had pleaded guilty to one count of robbery. The offence happened at College Green, Dublin, on 21 February 2023.

At a sentence hearing in July, Garda Robert Kennedy told prosecuting counsel Jane Murphy BL that the woman was studying at Trinity College and had gone to an ATM at around 6.30pm. The court heard that she withdrew €200 and put her purse in her pocket. She next remembered being on the ground with a man standing over her and his hand in her pocket.

Hawkins pulled and ripped her pocket and took her wallet. She did not resist because she was afraid he might hurt her. She was distressed and had cuts to her knees, but did not require hospital treatment.

Garda Kennedy said Hawkins was identified from CCTV and arrested. Hawkins made full admissions, identified himself on the footage and said that, although he had been taking tablets, he recalled taking the purse. He apologised.

The court heard Hawkins had 76 previous convictions, including theft and burglary. Garda Kennedy agreed with the defence that Hawkins had been homeless and had addiction issues; it was accepted that he cooperated with gardaí and entered an early guilty plea. Defence counsel said this was his first robbery and violent-offending conviction and submitted a letter of apology.