Man jailed for burglary of Banbridge home

A MAN who burgled a Banbridge home while subject to a suspended sentence for the same offence has been handed a three year prison sentence.

Tiarnan Declan Scullion, 26, was convicted of burglary and possession of a Class C drug at Newry Crown Court.

On 30 September, 2021, police received a call 2.45pm from a woman stating someone had entered her house at Primrose Gardens and taken various items including her car keys and her handbag.

She and her son and grandson were in the house and on arrival police spoke to her son who said his son had heard a car door and looked out the window to see someone in his grandmother's car in the driveway. He went downstairs and Scullion went off on foot.

The house had been entered through an unlocked back door, the kitchen cupboards had been rifled through and it was confirmed a total of three pairs of car keys had been taken, along with an airsoft gun which had been in a kitchen cupboard.

A short time later police saw Scullion in a black jumper and grey tracksuit bottoms, walking up the path a short distance away.

The police were being followed by the injured parties, one of whom told police this was the individual seen outside the house. When searched a number of items were recovered from Scullion's person, including £130 in notes and other items identified missing from the property. He also had two diazepam tablets which were not prescribed for him.

Scullion, with an address at Altmore in Craigavon and who has 52 previous convictions including five for burglary, gave a no comment response to all questions during police interview.

At the time of the offence he was subject to a recently imposed suspended prison sentence of 18 months for burglary.

In his summing up, Judge Gordon Kerr KC acknowledged Scullion had accepted his guilt but said it "has to be seen in the context that it's a case where effectively he was caught red handed".

A pre-sentence report before the judge stated he has "had an unfortunate enough background" and experienced mental health difficulties.

While in custody, he was also "subjected to appalling treatment by fellow prisoners on the basis they thought he was a sexual offender", including having several teeth knocked out.

He was classed by the Probation Board to present a high likelihood of reoffending, but he was not considered to pose a danger to the community.

It was stated that Scullion shows remorse for his actions and refers to himself as a "scumbag" and "wishes to distance himself from influences which, in his view, were bad and assisted him in behaving in the appalling way he did."

Judge Kerr imposed a sentence of two years in prison for this offence before activating the suspended sentence.

Noting the suspended sentence had been imposed for "exactly the same offence" and "he was only into it a very short time and therefore he was making it clear he was not going to take the benefit given by the court of a further opportunity", Judge Kerr said the sentence should be imposed consecutively to his latest conviction.

He reduced the 18 month sentence to one of 12 months, making a total spell in prison of three years, with 50 per cent to be spent in custody and 50 per cent on licence

A one month sentence was imposed concurrently on the drug charge while a £25 offender levy was ordered.

Judge Kerr also made an order for the destruction of the drugs seized.