Courts / Dublin / Report
Convicted armed robber to be sentenced for "nasty" handbag theft
Summary
Joseph Cole, 48, will be sentenced in February for stealing a handbag from a woman walking home with her two‑year‑old daughter on 14 October 2011. The handbag contained €1,100 in cash and other items, none of which was recovered. Cole pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and has 42 prior convictions, including a seven‑year term for armed robbery in the UK in 1994 and an eight‑year term in Ireland for attempted robbery and false imprisonment in 2002. He was homeless at the time of the offence, admitted using tablets and had difficulty recalling the event, but accepted responsibility for taking the bag. The judge noted his efforts to overcome drug addiction and adjourned sentencing until a probation report is submitted. The case is still pending, with no further outcome reported in the article.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted armed robber to be sentenced for "nasty" handbag theft. Charges or matters: theft of a handbag at Benburb Street on October 14, 2011. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 14, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2015 Other
- 2015-12-16 Publication
Why: One of the men stood in front of her, near her daughter in order to distract her and Cole grabbed her handbag from the buggy. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: theft of a handbag at Benburb Street on October 14, 2011 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Cole received a seven year sentence in the United Kingdom for armed robbery in 1994 and was released on licence in 1999 having addressed his drug addiction in custody.; She told him that successfully dealing with his drug addiction had not been an easy feat and adjourned sentencing until February for a probation report.
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