Drink and drugs fuelled burglars sent behind bars

Drink and drugs fuelled burglars sent behind bars

26 October 2016

TWO men have been jailed following a drink and drug fuelled burglary of a house in Downpatrick.

Darryl Wade (25), of Downpatrick’s Malone Court, and Stephen Magennis (23), of Crossgar’s Downpatrick Road, each received an 18-month sentence.

The pair admitted burgling the house at Demesne View on December 2 last year, stealing car keys and taking the owner’s BMW car without permission. The car was subsequently damaged beyond repair in a crash a short distance away on the Ardglass Road.

Wade failed to give a blood sample to police who suspected him of drink driving and Magennis was found in possession of cannabis.

Sarah Jo O’Connor (20), of Downpatrick’s Ballymote Walk, who originally faced two charges relating to the burglary, pleaded not guilty and was acquitted earlier this month.

At Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Sandra Crawford noted that Wade’s recollection of the night was limited due to his “level of intoxication”. She also described what happened as “largely impulsive behaviour”.

Judge Crawford noted Wade had accumulated a lengthy criminal record, with offending starting from the age of 13 including 10 burglary related charges.

She said previous court interventions had had a “limited impact” on his offending and that Wade was assessed as being at a high risk of reoffending.

She said Wade, expelled from school in 2006, also presented as “vulnerable and struggling with emotions” and with unresolved medical issues.

Judge Crawford said Magennis also had addiction issues and had accumulated a “significant criminal record”.

She acknowledged the guilty pleas and remorse expressed but said burglaries such as the one Wade and Magennis admitted to were “utterly reprehensible” and created “a sense of violation and insecurity” in householders.

“It appears your deplorable behaviour was impulsive, no doubt fuelled by drugs and alcohol,” she said.

“It is very fortunate serious injury was avoided in the stolen vehicle.”

While noting that “substance misuse is not an excuse”, the judge also urged the pair to break the cycle of offending linked to their addictions.

“You have both expressed a commitment to change,” she said.

“You are both still very young. It is clear from the Probation report you both have the potential to make something of your lives. It is entirely in your hands whether you take the opportunity to do so.”

Wade and Magennis will be released after nine months to serve half their sentence on licence and have been banned from driving for two years. Magennis was also fined £300 on the charge of possessing cannabis.