Jailed for robbing Three mobile phone shop
A YOUNG Polish man, who hoped to be deported home, has instead been sentenced to four years in prison for the robbery of a Cavan Town mobile phone shop.
During his recent sentencing hearing at Cavan Circuit Court, Aleksander Korzeniowski (22), asked Judge John Aylmer through an interpreter “what about going home?” to which the judge said: “The minister [of Justice] can look after that.”
Sergeant Michelle Geddes read from a statement made by one of her colleagues, Gda Mark McGowan, who investigated the town centre robbery.
Gda McGowan said he was on patrol in the Main Street area of Cavan at 2:55am on March 14, 2024, when he observed four males in a Dublin-registered grey Chrysler car acting suspiciously.
The driver of the car was told the vehicle would be searched under the drugs act and all four men were conveyed to Cavan Garda Station.
Among the items recovered from the car during the search were screwdrivers, disposable gloves, black leather gloves and a wheel brace.
“Korzeniowski admitted in his garda interview he had kicked in the glass of the front door of the Three mobile phone shop,” Gda McGowan’s statement read, “and he admitted taking three tablets.”
A statement from the store manager said the gang stole phones and other devices from the Three Shop totalling €8,840.
The Polish national, who was living in a hostel at the time of the offence, was arrested and taken into custody on March 27 on four charges including burglary, handling stolen property, damaging property and trespassing.
He was not released from prison until December 3, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to the burglary and damaging property charges against him. He was granted bail on the foot of his guilty plea on the condition that he appear at Cavan Circuit Court for sentencing.
“Whilst in custody he was served with a deportation order with the opportunity to contest, which, he hasn’t done,” Korzeniowski’s defence barrister, Breffni Gordon, explained to the court.
Mr Gordon went on to explain that, just before Korzeniowski was granted bail, he was served with a ministerial order that stated, when the defendant completes his sentence, he is to be removed from the jurisdiction.
Also, while he was on bail, one of Korzeniowski’s co-accused was dealt with by the court and received a suspended sentence.
However, when Korzeniowski failed to turn up to his February hearing a bench warrant was issued for his arrest and it was executed on June 19 and, again, he was remanded in custody to Castlerea Prison to appear at Cavan Circuit Court late last month.
“He has no family living here and is not in a relationship. There is no governor’s report available on this man from prison because he was granted bail and released. He pleaded guilty and should be given credit for time already served,” urged Mr Gordon.
When Judge John Aylmer asked if Korzeniowski had any previous convictions, he was told he had 15 convictions including six for theft, two for public order, one criminal damage conviction, two counts of unauthorised taking of a bike, and one of trespassing.
The court also heard he had previously served five months in prison.
“You played an active role as part of a gang in breaking the glass and helping yourself to three tablets,” Judge John Aylmer said to Korzeniowski. “I place this in the mid-range of offending and that attracts a headline sentence of six years in prison before mitigation.”
The judge highlighted mitigating factors include his co-operation with gardaí, his guilty plea and his young age.
“Your co-accused was different,” Judge Aylmer continued. “He was identified as remorseful in his Probation Service report, and I could suspend his sentence because he had no previous convictions.”
The judge said he could mandate for the headline sentence for burglary and damaging property to be reduced to four years.
“What about going back home?” the court’s Polish interpreter said Korzeniowski wanted to know.
“The minister can look after that,” Judge Aylmer said in response.
The prosecution entered nolle prosequi on two of the four charges against the defendant.
Sentencing Korzeniowski to four years in prison for burglary and damaging property, Judge Aylmer said he would suspend the final six months and give him credit for the nine months he has already spent in custody.
“You have no family here which will make your stay in prison more difficult,” the judge acknowledged.