Teen blames spiked drink for mini crime spree
A 17-year-old boy who believed that drink spiked with drugs resulted in his taking part in a mini crime wave, has been further remanded on bail pending sentencing.
The boy had already pleaded guilty at the Children's Court to theft, trespass, obstructing a garda and criminal damage offences, which occurred at a north Dublin business park on July 17 last.
Today, judge Heather Perrin adjourned sentencing until next month after the teen, who was accompanied to his case by his parents, entered an additional plea to stealing a set of pliers from a north Dublin shop, on October 1 last.
The court was told that the boy has begun taking part in a training course and community projects which gets youths from his area involved in pro-social activities.
A pre-sentence probation report was also sought.
Earlier, garda Garvan Lennon had said the teenager trespassed at three premises at the Poppentree Industrial Estate in north Dublin. The boy had been confronted by staff at the Kerry Foods premises and fled. Earlier that day he had stolen a bicycle from the same location.
The teenager then went to another part of the industrial estate where he caused criminal damage to a motorcycle. He was chased from the area by a security guard but went to another business and used a bolt cutters to cut through a fence causing about €500 worth of damage.
Garda Lennon had said he arrested the teenager after he spotted him fleeing from the scene and the defendant “wrestled with me and had to be physically restrained (and) was highly intoxicated”.
The teenager already had four convictions for public order offences including trespassing.
The court had been told that the boy had been drinking the night before but when he awoke the next morning he was “not feeling himself”. The teen suspected that “drugs may have been involved and sparked this spree”.
The defence also submitted that a family bereavement had been the cause of the boy’s dropping out of school and turning to criminality.
