61st criminal conviction as Ardglass man is imprisoned

61st criminal conviction as Ardglass man is imprisoned

AN Ardglass man, with 60 criminal convictions, has been jailed for 16 months for burglary.

Twenty one year-old Brendan Patrick Kelly was caught trying to break into Cecil Browne’s hardware store in Bath Street in the early hours of December 16 last year.

A local resident heard a window break and recognised Kelly who was trying to get into the shop. When the man shouted, Kelly ran off, Downpatrick Crown Court heard on Thursday.

Police later arrested Kelly, formerly of Crewhill Gardens, who has since moved to the Antrim Road in Belfast.

A solicitor said Kelly had been drinking before the incident which he said was not premeditated.

Judge David Smith said the case had come to the Crown Court because of the number of previous convictions which Kelly has amassed.

Kelly must serve four months of the sentence and spend the remaining 12 months of the sentence on licence. He was also ordered to take part in counselling for his alcohol and preion drug addiction.