A CONVICTED thief, who was apprehended by the owner of a house he had just burgled, has been jailed for four and half years for the break-in.
Sam Neill (19), of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, pleaded guilty before Limerick Circuit Criminal Court to one count of burglary.
Mr Neill broke into the home of David Hickey, Old Schoolhouse, Castleconnell, County Limerick, on January 15 this year.
The court heard that David Hickey, his wife, and their three young children were in the house at the time.
Mr Neill entered one of the children’s bedrooms and upended Ms Hickey’s handbag before Mr Hickey heard him exiting the property.
“Mr Hickey followed and apprehended the accused and the Gardaí were called,” prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan BL told the court.
Mr O’Sullivan told Judge Colin Daly that the maximum sentence for burglary was 14 years.
Judge Daly said Mr Neill “clearly targeted a residential property which was clearly occupied”.
He added that, while Neil’s actions on the night were “not sophisticated”, the burglary had “a very significant impact” on the family.
The court heard that Mr Neill had 13 previous convictions, including two for burglary and 11 for theft.
Judge Daly said he considered a “headline sentence” of six and half years to be appropriate, and reduced this to five years after taking into consideration Neill’s guilty plea, “although he was caught red-handed”.
The judge further reduced the sentence to four years after taking into consideration Neill’s remorse, his lack of any family support, lack of formal education, and his co-operation with investigating Gardaí.
Judge Daly said Mr Neill “hopes to learn a trade while he is in prison”.
He backdated the four-year sentence to September 10 this year, when Neill entered a signed plea to the burglary charge and was first taken into custody.
