Heroinaddict(27) turns himselfinafterstealing jewelleryworth€4,000

A burglar who stole €4,000 worth of jewellery from a Wexford house later turned up at the local garda station to turn himself in.

Twenty-seven year old Johnathan Brown of no fixed address admitted breaking into 11 Carrig Lawn on July 27, 2016.

He caused €300 in damage to the rear door of the premises as he forced an entry.

Wexford District Court was informed that none of the property taken was recovered.

However, Brown went to the barracks to tell gardaí that he had committed the offence.

He was struggling with heroin addiction and was worried that he would commit more crimes to feed the drugs habit.

He was able to identify for officers the estate where the break-in took place but did not know the number of the house.

‘He was asking for help,’ concluded Brown’s solicitor Lana Doherty who said her client was anxious at the time to be admitted to a methadone programme.

The court was told that the defendant had a steady partner and that the couple had two young children.

Once arrested after his confession, former fish factory worker Brown took a detox course in Cloverhill Prison while on remand and he was now drug free, said Ms Doherty.

Judge John Cheatle noted that the accused had just two previous convictions on his record – counts of drugs possession and having drugs for sale or supply both dating back to 2011.

The judge remarked that it was an unusual case and that the burglary appeared to have come out of the blue.

He was prepared to consider a community service order and looked for a probation report with this in mind.

Bail was allowed pending production of the report though conditions were set.

Brown was told that he must reside with his mother, who was in court for her son’s appearance in court, at 28 Ferndale Park, Coolcotts.

He was also told to obey a curfew and sign on daily at the garda station.

On that basis the matter stands adjourned to November 21.

Sergeant Gary Rayner offered no objection to the granting of bail but warned that further charges were being contemplated.