Six months in jail for shoplifter who assaulted Dealz manager

JAIL was prescribed for a man who threatened and assaulted the manager of a Wexford Main Street store in the course of an attempt to shoplift €13.50 worth of groceries.

Wexford District Court was told that 45-yearold Joseph Sinnott was homeless, though court papers disclosed previous Wexford addresses at Flat 1, 2 St Patrick’s Square, and 1 Liam Mellows Park.

A knife was produced by Sinnott in the course of the incident at Dealz on December 27, 2017.

Judge Gerard Haughton handed down a six month sentence for the assault on shop manager John Scallan Walsh.

Also taken into consideration was a series of offences committed over the years 2016 to 2018.

These included another assault, committed on May 7, in 2017 when John O’Keeffe was left bruised and scratched.

Counts of public intoxication and theft were also before the District Court where Sinnott was represented by solicitor Nigel Allen.

Mr Allen said that his client was suffering health problems, both mental and physical.

While in prison on remand, the defendant was on a cocktail of medication, taking about 16 tablets a day.

The judge ruled that community service was out of the question for someone with Sinnott’s drinking habits.