Nine months jail for stealing 31 gas cylinders from service station
By Brendan Grehan
A MAN with 271 previous convictions who stole 31 gas cylinders from a Clondalkin service station was sentenced to nine months jail by Blanchardstown District Court.
Judge David McHugh heard that Peter Brazil was identified from CCTV footage driving away from the service station with the gas cylinders.
Brazil, aged 40, with an address at Oatfield Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to stealing 31 gas cylinders worth €1085 from Texaco, Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, on December 4, 2017.
He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Irishtown Road, Clondalkin, on January 4, 2017.
Garda Patrick Fallon told Judge McHugh that on December 5 last, he took a report from the manager of the Texaco station that 31 gas cylinders worth €1085 had been taken the previous night.
He said the incident was captured on CCTV and showed Brazil arriving in a white Ford Transit and loading the cylinders onto the van and driving off.
He said Brazil was later arrested.
Sergeant Maria Callaghan said that on January 4, 2017, Brazil had been driving on the Naas Road and he failed to stop for the gardai.
She said Brazil drove in and out of traffic causing other drivers to brake. Sgt Callaghan said Brazil then broke a red light at the Irishtown Road and Fonthill Road before losing control of the car.
Garda Fallon said Brazil had 271 previous convictions, 198 of which were for road traffic offences, 41 were for theft, nine were for criminal damage and four were for assault.
He said that at Blanchardstown Court on July 25 last, Brazil had been sentenced to six months for no insurance.
Brazil’s counsel, Ciaran McLoughlin, said Brazil was “a 40-year-old gentleman”. He said his client never had a chance in life.
Mr McLoughlin said Brazil had spent time in an industrial school and was now doing well while in custody.
Judge McHugh sentenced Brazil to nine months jail for the theft consecutive on the sentence he is already serving and fined him €500 with a two-year driving ban for the dangerous driving.
