Man with 160 convictions who escaped from custody is jailed

Man with 160 convictions who escaped from custody is jailed

1 April 2015

A FORMER Downpatrick man with over 160 convictions has been jailed for four months for escaping custody.

Thirty two year-old Jackie Johnston fled from court in October last year before being recaptured 

by police.

The 32-year-old, who has more recently been living at Berkley Square, Bangor, had been in custody in connection with a hoax call which led to a security operation in Ballynahinch.

At a court hearing in February, he admitted making the drunken call in which he claimed a pipe bomb had been left in the Riverside area of Ballynahinch but had not exploded.

The PSNI conducted searches of the area over two days before deciding it was a hoax. Johnston was sentenced to 16 months in prison for this offence.

Last week, he was sentenced to an additional four months, to run consecutively to his other jail term, for escaping from lawful custody.

Judge Piers Grant said the defendant had amassed 162 convictions since 1998.

“Pretty much every offence that you could commit has been committed by you,” said the judge.

“The Probation Service report makes it clear you have had a troubled background but that is no excuse. 

“You appear to be a complete mess, so irresponsible and so stupid.”

A pre sentence report said there was a “high likelihood” of Johnston reoffending.