Man involved in two ‘vicious’ attacks jailed for two years

A MAN has been jailed for two years for taking part in two ‘vicious’ robberies.

Thomas Jackson, 21, was one of three men who attacked the robbery victims, who were kicked and punched leading to one man losing consciousness.

Jackson, a homeless man living in Focus Ireland-managed accommodation, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two separate robberies committed on Mary’s Lane and Cuckoo Lane in Dublin city centre, on May 1, 2017.

Judge Martin Nolan suspended the last two-and-a-half years of a fourand-a-half year prison sentence on condition that Jackson keeps the peace and engages with the Probation Services after his release.

Garda Paul Comerford told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Vinicius Prado, a Brazilian man, was walking home when he met Jackson and two other men.

The men blocked his way and Mr Prado knew he was in trouble and began to run off, the court heard.

One of the attackers pulled him to the ground. The men began kicking and punching him and shouted at him to hand over his phone.

Later on the same night, Mohammed Akbar was walking home when he passed Jackson and the two men.

The men shoved him and asked Mr Akbar to hand over his phone. Mr Akbar ran down Cuckoo Lane but the attackers caught him by the hood of his jacket and pulled him back.

One man began punching Mr Akbar, while the others tried to stop him from shielding his head with his arms by pulling his arms down.

The court heard that Mr Akbar was knocked out for a few seconds and when he came to he saw his assailants running off. The men had taken his phone and a wallet with the key to his flat in it.

Mr Akbar suffered a broken wrist which left him unable to take care of himself. The Indian national had to return to India to be cared for by his family, the court heard. The first victim was left with broken teeth which he has not being able to afford to repair. He also suffered bruising.

Jackson has two previous convictions for public order and theft offences. Judge Nolan said that Jackson’s youth and the testimonial letter saved him from getting a longer sentence.