Four years jail for nine day robbery spree
By Isabel Hayes
A father-of-two who committed a series of robberies over a nine day period has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Amir Essalhi (35) of Burg an Ri Walk, Balgaddy, Clondalkin, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Ebano Hair & Beauty Salon, Ballinteer Shopping Centre, Ballinteer, on November 20, 2018.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Essalhi also pleaded guilty to robbery at Centra, Drummartin Road, on November 21, 2018, and to robbery at Centra, Ballinteer Road, on November 28, 2018.
He also pleaded guilty to the further charge of attempted robbery at Spar, Rockville Road, Blackrock, on November 23, 2018.
Essalhi has 65 previous convictions, including convictions for robbery, arson, burglary and assault causing harm.
Judge Martin Nolan said Essalhi was in possession of weapons during each of the incidents, ranging from a screwdriver to a knife. He said that the offences all featured the threat of violence rather than actual violence.
Judge Nolan said these were “serious crimes which had a serious effect on people”. He said that the case was mitigated by Essalhi’s guilty pleas and his admissions and acknowledged that he had had a challenging background.
He sentenced Essalhi to four-and-a-half years imprisonment.
Gerardine Small BL, defending, said her client’s brother was murdered in 2011 in “the most barbaric fashion”. She said her client had unresolved issues relating to the death of his brother.
Ms Small said her client was “off the wagon” at the time of the offending but is now drug free. She said he has two children and retains the support of his parents.
She said her client was remorseful for committing these offences and asked the judge to be as lenient as possible.
