Man turned to crime after addiction to crack and heroin

A previously law-abiding young man who turned to crime after getting addicted to crack and heroin has been jailed for robbery and for holding nearly €30,000 worth of drugs, reports Brion Hoban and Declan Brennan.

Lawyers for Jacob Breaw (24) told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that in an 18-month period, Breaw went from being a healthy young man to a drug addict committing crimes to feed his habit.

In May 2019, he was caught holding over €29,000 of cannabis in a schoolbag in his mother’s bedroom during a search of his Dublin home by gardai. He had not been charged with this when the following November he carried out a street robbery while armed with a knife.

Breaw, of Esker Lodge, Lucan, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply at his address on May 3, 2019. He also pleaded guilty to robbery at Cherbury Park, Lucan, on November 30,2019.

He has four previous convictions, including for possession of knives and public order offences.

Sentencing him on Wednesday last Judge Melanie Greally said that up to the age of 21, Breaw had lived a law-abiding and conventional life.

Judge Greally said at that point he left a pro-social circle of friends and became involved with a negative group who were engaged with taking drugs and committing crimes to fund this.

She noted that in a letter to the court he has expressed a commitment to returning to a life free of drugs and criminality. He also expressed remorse to the robbery victim and has recognised the seriousness of his actions.

The judge said she was taking into consideration the fact that he has addressed his drug addiction while in custody, his remorse and the continuing support from his family who are hard-working and respectable people.

Judge Greally suspended the final two years of a five-and-a-half-year prison sentence on condition that he keep the peace for that period and engage with the Probation Service.

Garda Eoin O’Flaherty told Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question, he and a number of other gardai went to the accused’s address on foot of a search warrant.

Garda O’Flaherty said that during the search, a schoolbag containing cannabis was located in the bedroom of the accused’s mother. Breaw immediately took responsibility for the drugs at the scene.

The total estimated street value of the drugs was €29,312.

Seán O’Quigley BL, defending, told the court that his client was previously a healthy young man, but that at around the age of 21 he began using drugs recreationally, became addicted and dropped out of college.

He said his client knows now that a series of poor decisions ruined his life and caused pain to his family and to victims of his offending.

Garda O’Flaherty agreed with counsel that Breaw owed money due to his drug-taking. The court heard that his mother has had to pay €900 in drug debts.