Woman jailed for three years for robbing 86-year-old in his own home in the Midlands
Judge Keenan Johnson: 'I take no pleasure in sending you to prison but you leave me with no choice'
A Longford woman who picked up 18 charges for theft since failing to appear in court last July has been jailed for the robbery of an 86-year-old pensioner in his home in 2021.
A bench warrant was issued for Rachel Robertson (31), of Moatefarrell, Ballinalee, Co Longford, in November and she appeared this week before Judge Keenan Johnson at Longford Circuit Court seeking a final opportunity.
However, the court heard, since August 2023, Ms Robertson has amassed no less than 18 charges under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001 - most of which are before Trim District Court.
Ms Robertson had previously pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery of an elderly man at an address in Longford town on May 28, 2021.
In an earlier court sitting, evidence was heard of how Ms Robertson and a co-accused woman had forcibly entered the home of the 86-year-old pensioner, and pushed him to the ground before taking his phone and €130 from his wallet and leaving.
The co-accused woman was previously sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for five years.
Defence barrister, Mr Niall Flynn, said his client has “a chronic history of heroin addiction” and a difficult childhood, as well as mental health difficulties. He also told the court that Ms Robertson's father is ill.
Ms Robertson, taking to the witness box, told Judge Johnson that the reason she didn't appear in court last July was that she “got her dates mixed up” and then “panicked”.
Regarding the 18 theft charges she said, “some of them, I hold my hands up, I was robbing to feed four kids”, referring to the children of a friend in Navan.
When it was revealed to the court that the majority of her theft charges included the theft of alcohol, she insisted “there was food in there too”.
Ms Robertson admitted she “slipped up” in relation to drugs “but it wasn't with heroin, it was with crack cocaine”. However, aside from two sleeping tablets when she went into prison, she said she hasn't touched any drugs since August and isn't even on a methadone programme.
“Prison isn't for me,” she told Judge Johnson, when asking for one final opportunity to avoid a custodial sentence.
“You've been given every opportunity you could possibly get and you haven't taken them,” said Judge Johnson.
“You didn't engage in the way you should have. I take no pleasure in sending you to prison but you leave me with no choice.”
Turning to the matter of sentence, he said the court has been dealing with this case for “a considerable length of time”.
“She did make an effort to get clean but, unfortunately, as soon as she gets out of prison, she can't stay clean,” he said.
“Until she realises she has to kick her habit of drugs and alcohol completely, she will be in and out of prison her whole life.”
He proceeded to sentence Ms Robertson to three years in prison, with credit for time served.
He also recommended that she be granted compassionate leave if necessary due to her father's illness.