MAN CONVICTED ON SERIES OF CHARGES IS SPARED JAIL IN THE DISTRICT COURT

JOHN Morris, with addresses at 92 Hazelwood, Bridgetown and 23 Liam Mellows Park in Wexford, was spared jail as he appeared before Judge John Brennan on trespass, handling, theft and other charges.

The 50-year-old also admitted possession of a flick-knife which he told gardaí he had because he was under threat at the time it was seized by officers.

Most of the charges outstanding against Morris dated back to 2012 and 2013, with the delay in dealing with them explained by the fact that he went to Wales for several years.

The defendant’s mother and brother were present in the District Court as Sergeant Victor Isdell presented a summary of the various offences.

The defendant entered the Windmill Therapeutic Centre as a trespasser through a window, though the burglary yielded nothing as he and an accomplice were arrested at the scene.

Morris helped himself to €150 from the cash register at the Hotel Saltees as well as the keys to a couple of bedrooms.

He was discovered by gardaí in one of these rooms.

In February of 2013 he was found in possession of a cordless drill which had been taken during a burglary at the premises of Hamilton’s Contractors a day earlier.

This prompted a search of his home in Bridgetown where a generator, also stolen from Hamilton’s, was recovered.

Also on the list was a motor insurance charge, and a drink drive offence, along with more recent theft charges as Morris admitted taking bottles of Smirnoff and Bacardi from various premises.

Solicitor Tim Cummings reckoned that his client had already spent 20 years of his adult life in jail.

The court was told that, if spared a further stint in prison, he intended to return to Wales to tackle difficult medical issues.

The court had the benefit of a heartfelt letter from the defendant’s mother, Anne Morris, which the judge felt it would be difficult not to be affected by.

A ten-month sentence imposed for the Windmill break-in was suspended and the offender was banned from driving for four years.

‘Thanks for giving me a chance,’ said Morris to Judge Brennan after it became clear that he was not returning to jail.