A CYCLIST who got lost on route to his part-time job as a welder in Ballineen found a jeep with the keys in it and used it.

Plunkett Taaffe, solicitor, acknowledged to Judge John King at Clonakilty District Court that his client Barry Roche (27) of 11 Convent Way, Clonakilty, had 28 previous convictions, but he said these occurred while he was in the throes of an addiction to alcohol.

After using the vehicle on Tuesday September 30th, Sgt Tom Mulcahy said the accused later parked and locked the vehicle behind a supermarket near his home.

When approached by gardaí the accused returned to the car park and showed them where he had hidden the keys. He also retrieved a device that the owner had used as a steering assist.

The sergeant said the accused made full admissions to three charges: driving without a licence; having no insurance; and taking a vehicle without consent.

Noting that the keys had been left in the jeep, Judge John King described this as ‘an opportunistic theft.’ He also noted that in addition to the 28 previous convictions, the accused, who is also on disability, was disqualified from driving for a 10-year period when he was just 18 years old.

The judge acknowledged the apology that Mr Taaffe issued on his client’s behalf and said: ‘The only thing that is staying my hand is that he has made full admissions to the investigating officer.

‘Without a shadow of a doubt you should be going to jail’, the judge said. ‘You have two disqualifications and you are on a suspended sentence.’ The case was adjourned to January 6th for a probation report.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.