A heroin addicted father of two who stole a camera from a woman during Sunday service in a church was given 22 months in jail for this and one other sample burglary conviction at the District Court this week (February 18 ).
Wesley Joyce (28 ), from Sarsfield Square, Athlone was in court to plead guilty to a total of 17 charges committed between last May and February 11, including eight burglaries, two thefts, three drug possession charges, three criminal damage and possession of a deadly weapon.
The court heard how Joyce went into the Methodist church on Northgate Street on August 31 and took the camera worth €350 from a handbag that was left down beside a pew.
He also burgled Athlone Community College, a betting shop, a hairdressers, a number of doctors’ surgeries as well as some private residences during his nine month crime spree.
His solictor, Mr Padraig Quinn, told the court that the offensive weapon found on his client’s person after a Garda search on August 30 was a screwdriver that Joyce had borrowed from his mother to fix a bicycle and was returning.
Inspector Pat Murray begged to differ and told the court that when asked on arrest what the screwdriver was for, Joyce said: “To stick a person I don’t like”.
Mr Quinn explained in mitigation how his client had a very tragic background and that his father and sister had died when he was a child and his brother had died recently.
“He has been in detention many times and last Christmas was his first one at home in 12 [years],” said Mr Quinn.
“He’s had no formal education of any kind.”
“Why is it that people who are spending large periods of time in prison have been artists and writers and painters?” asked Judge John Neilan.
“How is it your client has made no effort to improve his lot?”
“I think the penny is beginning to drop,” said Mr Quinn.
“He has two young children aged seven and four living in Galway with their mother which provide a sense of motivation for him.”
“It has taken a long time for the penny to drop,” said Judge John Neilan.
“It is a sad reflection on society that someone going to divine service on a Sunday gets something stolen from their handbag.”
He sentenced Joyce to 11 months for the church theft and gave him a consecutive 11 months for one sample burglary.
For all the other charges Joyce was given 11 months concurrent on each.
Bail for appeal was set at €900 of his own money and an independent surety of €1,200.
