Latest news with #suspendedSentence
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Jail for visitor who 'had no explanation' for stealing from city store
A VISITOR to Carlisle who stopped off in the city could offer no explanation for why he stole goods worth more than £200 from a local store. At the time when he committed the offence during his visit to the Newtown Road branch of B&M, 41-year-old Antonio Gabriel Maldonado Rueda was under the threat of a suspended jail term, the city's Rickergate court heard. The defendant admitted theft. Prosecutor Diane Jackson said the defendant stole various goods, including pain killers, leaving the store after making no attempt to pay for the goods he took. Their total value was £214, she said. 'He was stopped as he left the store,' said Mrs Jackson. The court heard that Rueda – following the proceedings with the help of a Spanish interpreter – had five previous offences on his record. In March, magistrates in Wales gave him a 16-week jail term for similar offending. This was suspended for two years and was thus in force when he committed the Carlisle offence. Lauren Heasley, for Rueda, told the court: 'He apologises for offending on Saturday. He'd been travelling from his home to Glasgow. 'He stopped off in Carlisle and he can't provide an explanation for his actions. He was not in financial difficulty and had the means to pay. "It seems that for whatever reasons, while he was in the B&M store, temptation got the better of him. Without any sophistication, he sought to remove those items without paying.' She added that Rueda was willing to work with the Probation Service. Deputy District Judge Roger Lowe noted how the defendant was serving a suspended sentence for three previous shoplifting offences in March after appearing at Somerset and Avon Magistrates earlier that month for yet more shoplifting. The law states that in such circumstances – when there is further similar offences - a suspended sentence should be activated unless it would be unjust to do so. 'I can't find any grounds on which I can say it would be unjust,' said the judge. He jailed the defendant, of Castlehey, Skelmersdale, for 14 weeks.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Postman opened cards in search of money to pay off loan shark debt, court hears
A former An Post employee who removed cash from cards and letters in a bid to repay loan sharks who threatened to burn down his house has received a fully suspended prison sentence. Michael Ryan, of Ross Street, Killavullen, Co Cork appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Monday for sentencing. His offending behaviour mainly involved the opening of greeting cards and letters in the hope that they continued money. The 39-year-old had been remanded in custody on June 20th last for sentencing. READ MORE Garda Eoin O'Callaghan said the offending occurred from October 24th, 2023 to November 18th, 2023. Garda O'Callaghan told Judge Helen Boyle it was difficult to put a figure on the total financial loss. He indicated that many of the envelopes which were opened by Mr Ryan were bright and colourful and looked like they contained greeting cards. Mr Ryan co-operated fully with the Garda investigation into the matter. He also wrote a letter of apology to the court. Defence barrister Emmet Boyle said his client was hugely remorseful for his behaviour. 'He is deeply sorry and disgusted with himself for ruining a fine job that he had at this time,' he said. Mr Boyle said the accused had borrowed €3,000 from a loan shark, with his debt soon doubling to €6,000. He stated that Mr Ryan was warned that if he did not pay his debt, his house would be burned down. Judge Helen Boyle said Mr Ryan had breached the trust of both his employer and the public. She emphasised that the public depends on the honesty with which the postal service operates. She said Mr Ryan had brought shame on himself while suffering the loss of a good job arising out of his offending behaviour. Judge Boyle commended gardaí and An Post for their quick response after members of the public noticed that cards containing cash and vouchers were not reaching their destination. Two items were put in the post as a test. Mr Ryan was caught on CCTV at a sorting office removing the items and bringing them to his car. He had opened some 140 coloured cards and 77 commercial letters. Judge Boyle said that, generally, older people send cash and vouchers in the post as gifts for loved ones. 'They are entitled to not have them interfered with and for them to arrive intact,' she said. She noted the guilty plea, the full admissions on arrest, the remorse of the accused and his mental health difficulties, before sentencing him to 27 months in prison, which she fully suspended. Mr Ryan was also ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service. He had pleaded guilty to theft of post at the A Post delivery service unit at Carrignaroher, Fermoy, Co Cork and to related charges of possessing stolen post and interference with post.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- BBC News
Suspended sentence over Blackburn fatal car workshop fire
A director of a former car garage in Blackburn has been handed a suspended sentence after a man died in a fire at the broke out at Smart Auto Parts Ltd on 24 April 2021 at about 18:35 BST, engulfing the car parts scrapyard and workshop building and was intensified by the presence of gas cylinders and an asbestos sheet body of Waqas Qureshi was found four days later, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) Syed Haider, from Manchester, was handed a nine-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Preston Crown Court after previously admitting 13 fire safety breaches. The 50-year-old pleaded guilty to breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including failure to equip the premises with appropriate fire detection and alarm systems, failure to maintain fire safety equipment and failure to provide employees with relevant fire safety training. 'Complete devastation' At the time of the blaze the building contained 16 vehicles and a forklift truck, the fire service presence of acetylene and LPG cylinders and an asbestos sheet roof, caused "complete devastation to the structure and its contents", it added.A fire safety investigation on 30 April 2021 uncovered several serious fire safety deficiencies at the premises, including no fire alarm system, blocked and inadequate escape routes, lack of emergency lighting and no staff fire safety area manager, Matthew Hamer, said: "This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of neglecting fire safety responsibilities. "These breaches contributed to the tragic death of Mr Waqas Qureshi and our thoughts are with his family at this time."The outcome of this case should serve as a stark reminder that fire safety is not optional - it is a legal and moral obligation." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BreakingNews.ie
25-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (25) who kicked victim five times in head in front of garda avoids jail
A 25-year-old man who kicked a man of a similar age in the head five times in the presence of a garda has received a three-year suspended sentence. Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that Jake Kelly Wilmot of College Drive, College Manor in Cobh, Co Cork, punched a man to the ground at West View in his hometown on May 14th, 2022. Advertisement Garda Lorraine Manning said in evidence that Garda Shay Dempsey noticed that a young man was chasing a person in Cobh. Garda Dempsey was in a patrol car and activated the blue lights and siren. When the garda got to the man, he noticed that another man, Jake Kelly Wilmot, was at the scene. Mr Kelly Wilmot closed his fist and hit the man who was being chased. The man fell to the ground. Garda Manning said that Garda Dempsey identified himself as a member of An Garda Síochána. 'Mr Kelly Wilmot then kicked the gentleman on the ground five times in the head. Garda Dempsey ran towards them, but the men ran away, leaving the injured man on the ground.' Advertisement The court heard that the victim needed stitches and staples following the assault on his person. He suffered a minor brain bleed and is still very impacted by what occurred to him. Defence barrister, Paula McCarthy BL, said that her client was experiencing certain mental health difficulties when he carried out the offending behaviour. He now volunteers with Penny Dinners and is in full employment. Ms McCarthy said that Mr Kelly Wilmot had brought €10,000 in compensation to court for the victim. Ms McCarthy stated that her client had undertaken an anger management course and cognitive behavioural therapy to address his issues. She said he was very remorseful for his behaviour. Advertisement Since the incident, he has set up his own company and carried out charity work. He also plans to give talks about what occurred to young men in a bid to stop others from following in his footsteps. Judge Helen Boyle read a copy of the victim impact statement that had been submitted to the court. She told Mr Kelly Wilmot that he was fortunate not to be facing far more serious charges, given the gravity of the offence. 'You (the accused) are very lucky you did not kill this young man or cause him serious injury. You could have been before a different court facing a very difficult future. 'In mitigation, you pleaded guilty, you saved the victim coming to court, you were co-operative with gardaí, and you paid the victim €10,000 as a tangible token of your remorse. Advertisement You are working, you completed volunteer courses and an anger management programme.' She added that the offence had really 'upset' the victim. She noted that he had also suffered a stamp laceration and a bruised kidney arising out of the incident. 'It changed his life. He lost his job. He has PTSD. He won't forget it. He thinks about it every day.' Judge Boyle imposed a three-year sentence, which she fully suspended.
BreakingNews.ie
23-05-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Ex-Manchester United player Williams given suspended sentence over crash
Former Manchester United footballer Brandon Williams has received a suspended jail sentence for dangerous driving after he reached almost 100mph seconds before his vehicle collided with another car. Williams, 24, was spotted driving at high speeds and in an erratic manner in an Audi A3 on the A34 near Handforth, Cheshire, on August 20th, 2023. Advertisement His vehicle collided with a Ford Fiesta before crashing into the central reservation. Williams was on loan at Ipswich Town at the time of incident. Last June, Manchester United announced he would leave the club at the end of his contract. In March, he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and having no insurance. Advertisement On Friday, at Chester Crown Court, he was sentenced to a 14-month jail term, suspended for two years. Recorder Eric Lamb also banned him from driving for three years and ordered he must undertake 180 hours of unpaid work as part of a community order.
