A man who targeted a vulnerable young woman, controlling her movements for two hours and forcing her to give him money and a phone, has been jailed for four years.
Sinore Iosca (25) of Sheephill Green, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to false imprisonment on May 14th, 2018. He has no previous convictions.
Detective Garda Cathal Feeney gave evidence on Wednesday that the then 23-year-old woman, who has Down syndrome, encountered Iosca (then 18) on Aungier Street on the afternoon of May 14, 2018.
He told her he'd been robbed and had no money. He walked her to a nearby ATM where she withdrew €20 and gave it to him.
Iosca then walked her to another ATM, where she withdrew €400, which she also gave to him.
He then took the woman and led her onto a bus before they got off at College Green. He then took her to the CompuB store, where she purchased an iPhone X, costing around €1,349.
Iosca then brought the victim to Weirs on Grafton Street, where they looked at Rolex watches. Iosca and the woman left the store. The victim returned a short time later, after which her mother and gardaí were alerted.
Grainne O'Neill BL, prosecuting, told the court the State's case is that the woman was “targeted, directed, and controlled” by Iosca and she was unable to use her free will from the moment she encountered him during her ordeal, which lasted for around two hours.
An extract from the woman's interview with specialist gardaí was played to the court during the sentence hearing. During this clip, the victim said Iosca told her he'd been robbed, but she noticed his coat pockets were full.
CCTV stills were handed to the court. Iosca was identified from this footage and arrested a few days later.
The victim's parents and sibling were in court.
A victim impact statement prepared by the woman's parents was read to the court by her father.
He said their “cherished and beautiful daughter” had suffered “deep and distressing psychological injuries” as a result of this incident and is now fearful for her safety.
He said the family alongside other services had worked hard to help the woman enjoy as much independence as possible, but these efforts were “undermined and negated by this targeted and predatory attack”.
He said his daughter has withdrawn socially, become isolated and has trust issues.
The woman's father noted that she had been a victim of a serious crime years before this incident, and that trauma had resurfaced for her and her family.
He said the family are fearful for her and her future. He added that the woman was “not safe” that day in the city and it saddens the family that this “cruelty” was inflicted on the woman while she was “walking the streets in daylight”.
When interviewed, Iosca denied stealing from the woman, saying that she gave him the money and the phone as presents. Iosca identified himself on CCTV and told gardaí that he didn't notice the woman had Down syndrome and she looked “beautiful” and “normal” to him.
He said he didn't force her or tell her to buy anything, and she wanted to buy it to help him.
A property was searched and the phone was recovered, where Iosca said it would be found.
Michael Hourigan SC, defending, noted this was a “distressing” and “mean” incident, for which his client is apologetic.
Imposing sentence, Judge Martin Nolan said “We Irish think we live in civilised society, but one burden of any court system is to protect the vulnerable”.
He said the woman was minding her own business when Iosca took advantage of her. Judge Nolan said the court had to infer Iosca did this “to gain materially”.
He said the court regarded this as “serious wrongdoing” and people are entitled to “enjoy their liberty and freedom”.
Judge Nolan said he was satisfied Iosca knew the difference between right and wrong.
Having considered Iosca's personal circumstances and the mitigation, Judge Nolan handed him a four-year prison sentence, backdated to October 9th last when he went into custody.
The judge said the court's view is that compensation was not appropriate in this case.
Addressing the woman's family, he said this was a “sad situation”, which must have been devastating for them and wished her well for the future.
