Jail sentence for driver in Offaly involved in collision after taking car from a 'friend'
A MAN who pleaded guilty to the theft of a car from a woman he knew will appeal against a jail sentence which was imposed on him at Tullamore District Court.
Judge Andrew Cody sentenced Jonathan Jennings, with an address at Scurragh, Birr to concurrent three-month prison terms after hearing he had 61 previous convictions.
Mr Jennings admitted the unauthorised taking of a vehicle belonging to Terese King at Seffin, Birr on November 13, 2021. He also pleaded guilty to entering the garage of the house at Seffin as a trespasser and stealing the keys of the same vehicle.
Sergeant James O'Sullivan said Mr Jennings was prosecuted following an investigation into a single vehicle road traffic collision at Ballivor, Banagher on November 14.
A male who did not own the vehicle was found at the side of the road and while a sample taken from him detected no alcohol, it was found that codeine, methadone and morphine were present.
Sergeant O'Sullivan said Terese King made a statement to gardai saying her vehicle had been stolen.
Judge Cody also heard a knife had been found on Mr Jennings' person and in April last year he had been sentenced to six months in prison for possession of knives.
He had also been sentenced in March 2021 and June 2019 for other offences and had been disqualified from driving for four years.
Sergeant O'Sullivan added that the accused also had a previous conviction for burglary and explained that he had been a friend of the lady who owned the car.
Defending solicitor Donal Farrelly said Mr Jennings had used the woman's car on several previous occasions.
Aged 44, he had been addicted to heroin for many years and all of the sentences imposed on him related to offences arising from his addiction.
He had been so sick from his addiction before that he went to England to go on a methadone programme and he was now on a similar programme.
He had secured a property of his own at Bolart, Moate and living there would remove him from people he had been involved with.
Mr Farrelly said his client had now stabilised his life and he hoped not to be sent to prison because that could result in him losing his new home.
Judge Cody decided to sentence Mr Jennings, saying he had been given a number of chances before by the court.
In addition to the concurrent three-month prison sentences, he disqualified Mr Jennings from driving for 10 years.
The judge also fixed recognisances for an appeal and Mr Jennings later lodged an appeal.