Kildare court: Nine month sentence imposed on juvenile for drive-off offence

A male juvenile was sentenced to serve nine months in a detention centre over a drive-off offence.

The sentence was imposed by Judge Desmond Zaidan at Naas District Court on Thursday, October 19 last.

The teenager's key worker was present in court on the date in question, and it was heard that the juvenile was due to appear in other courts for different matters.

Gardaí told the judge that the teenager was already remanded in custody for other matters, and was due for release in January of next year.

The court was told that the teenager left a petrol station after filling the car he was driving with fuel, worth around €20.19.

When Judge Zaidan asked who owned the car, the gardaí replied that this information was unknown.

The teenager's key worker said that he is 'doing well' in custody, and was undertaking schoolwork.

It was heard that the boy had seven previous convictions at the time of the offence, including one for a theft offence, and received 12 convictions following the offence.

Defending barrister Mark Gibbons pointed out that his client had submitted a guilty plea to the offence, and noted that his client had been 'making improvements since the incident', citing a positive probation report handed in to the judge.

In response, Judge Zaidan said: "Isn't that sad? He needed to go into a detention centre in order to get some stability? Isn't that a terrible indictment?"

Speaking directly to the teenager, the judge asked him if he was 'going to turn his life around', and the boy replied that he would.

When the judge asked him if he had plans to work once he reached adulthood, the juvenile replied that he would like to work, but doesn't know exactly what he wants to work as yet.

The court was told that the boy had one previous conviction for a drive-off offence.

After consideration, Judge Zaidan imposed a nine-month custodial sentence, adding: "I'm doing this as a last resort."

He set recognizance for the boy at €100.