Louth woman who demanded money for drugs threatened to ‘cut up’ female shop assistant

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 28-year-old drug addict who threatened to “cut up” a shop assistant if she did not hand over money has been jailed.

Eleanor Aspell was arrested by gardaí a short distance away as she went to buy “crack” cocaine.

The defendant, with an address at the time in Ballsgrove, Drogheda, was before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to a robbery charge.

She has 77 previous convictions, including for theft, robbery and assault, and this offence occurred during a suspended sentence.

Ms Aspell was sent to prison for 1 year and 5 months, after the court heard that her victim no longer felt safe and had to transfer to a different shop.

Evidence was given that at 1.20pm on January 7 last the defendant went into EuroGiant, West Street, Drogheda, where she purchased a green shopping bag.

She put items in the bag before approaching the checkout in an aggressive manner. She demanded €50 from the till.

When no money was forthcoming, she again made a demand of the shop assistant, adding: “Or I’ll cut you up”.

The defendant reached over the counter and grabbed the victim’s phone. She looked for €100.

The other woman opened the till and gave her two €50 notes. Ms Aspell returned the phone and left.

She was arrested at 3.05pm at Bachelors Lane, and made admissions during an interview but denied threatening to cut up the staff member.

The shop worker was not present in court. In a Victim Impact Statement she said that she has not been the same since.

She is afraid to walk through the town carrying cash and her mobile phone. She couldn’t stand working in West Street. She transferred to another shop in a safer environment.

"Nobody should be made feel unsafe in a place there they make their living,” the woman added.

Gda Brian Brady told defence counsel that Ms Aspell said that she needed money to buy “crack” cocaine which she took every day.

She was “around the corner” to buy drugs when gardaí arrested her.

Ms Aspell, who has one daughter, came from a “fantastic family”.

Barrister Donough McDonough said that his client apologised. She led a chaotic lifestyle and became addicted to heroin at 19 and started using “crack” in 2023.

Judge Dara Hayes noted that the defendant attended one of 9 appointments with the Probation Service. She was assessed at very high risk of reoffending.

Her family is very upset at her offending.

A sentence of 2 years and 8 months was imposed, the final 15 months suspended for 15 months.