A MAN who followed a schoolgirl off a bus and robbed her of her mobile phone and iPod was yesterday jailed for four years at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court.
Joseph Bailey (33) of Grange Drive, Muirhevnamore, Dundalk, Co Louth, pleaded guilty to robbing the 14-year-old girl on September 22nd, 2008, at Seafield Lawns, Dundalk.
The court heard he had followed the girl when she got off a local bus at about 4pm near the Muirhevnamore estate. He walked slowly ahead of her but was looking back at her over his shoulder.
A short time later he turned round and told her to give him her mobile phone or he would kill her. He also stole her iPod.
Sgt John Moroney said the girl had been able to identify him to gardaí. Since the robbery she has been nervous particularly in the evenings.
The court heard Bailey had 19 previous convictions and was on Circuit Court bail at the time for an aggravated burglary for which he was later sentenced. He admitted the offence to gardaí but said he was “spaced out”. He was a heroin addict at the time.
When he was arrested on October 7th, 2008, he apologised twice to the girl and her family.
Judge Michael O’Shea was told he had been in custody since then and a sentence for a previous offence expired earlier this month.
Defending, Derek Kenneally said Bailey has been making efforts to deal with his addiction and had taken educational courses while in jail. Since he has become a father he had got “enlightenment”, the court heard.
Judge O’Shea said there was a certain degree of stalking involved on the bus and when she got off it. The robbery was carried out in a “frightening and intimidating manner”, he said.
He imposed a four-year jail term but back-dated it to October 2008 and suspended the final year on condition Bailey was bound to the peace.