Man on drugs jailed for attack on school

Man on drugs jailed for attack on school

11 September 2013

A DOWNPATRICK man who went on a drug-fuelled burglary spree in a special needs school has received a 15 month prison sentence.

James Rogers (24) left Knockevin Special School with a bill of up to £10,000 when he burgled the Downpatrick premises on September 23 last year.

However, most of the expense relates to the locked doors and minibus windows he smashed rather than the value of the items stolen — which included a fire extinguisher and petty cash.

Thursday’s sitting of Downpatrick Crown Court heard Rogers, of Drumaness Walk, had taken around 30 diazepam tablets and three bottles of WKD before breaking into the school and had no recollection of the incident.

The alarm was raised by a caretaker who found Rogers in a school classroom. When police caught up with him they found he was carrying rubber gloves and a screwdriver, with stolen items including £400 in cash, a mobile phone, a fire extinguisher, car stereo and TV remote. Four minibuses had windows smashed, and some had damaged ignitions.

“The children were very, very badly affected by the damage to buses,” said a prosecuting lawyer.

“Two rooms out of four damaged were the therapy and nurse’s rooms, which would suggest a more focused approach to a burglary than a mere wandering around.”

Defence barrister Paul McAlinden said Rogers was horrified by what he had done and offered to make amends to the school with his first pay cheque out of prison.

“He felt really shocked and ashamed when he was told what damage he caused,” said Mr. McAlinden, who appealed for his client, already in custody, to be released from jail to spend time on Probation.

“He would like to apologise to them all. In his defence he says he is really sorry about the whole thing and wishes he could go back and change it all.”

Outlining a history of personal problems, he said his client was a “loner” who had lived with a father in and out of prison, a sick mother and the loss of a friend to suicide.

“His only coping mechanism was alcohol and drugs,” said Mr. McAlinden.

“He does not need custody. Custody is not the way forward for this young man. This man needs help.”

Judge David Smyth QC said Rogers did need help to address his many problems but that only custody was appropriate in this case. Noting that much of the damage to the school was “gratitous”, he said: “The value of the damage was much greater than the equipment taken.”

Addressing the defendant he added: “Probation was tried once, you did not cooperate.”

Half of the 15 month sentence imposed on Rogers is to be served on licence.