Man who stole car in Longford and sped away from pursuing Gardaí is jailed

A motorist with over 100 previous convictions who stole a car and sped away from Gardaí when they tried to stop him in county Longford has been sentenced to six months in prison and disqualified for six years.

Dylan Mills (22) of Shangan Avenue, Ballymun, Dublin pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving, unauthorised taking of a vehicle, criminal damage and driving without insurance and a driving licence on October 19, 2024.

Sergeant Enda Daly said Gardaí observed a vehicle being driven on the Bracklin Road, Edgeworthstown at 11pm and they carried out a registration check and subsequently learnt that the vehicle had been reported stolen.

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"Emergency lighting and siren was activated at which point the defendant failed to stop and fled the scene," Sgt Daly said.

"As a result Gardaí had to chase the vehicle and it was abandoned in a cul-de-sac and the driver fled from the vehicle.”

Sgt Daly stated patrols were conducted and Gardaí arrested a man under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

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"This man matched the physical description of the suspect and he was wearing the same clothes that the defendant wore and he was subsequently released under Section 23 (Misuse of Drugs Act) and subsequently rearrested for the unauthorised taking of the vehicle," he added.

Sgt Daly said there was damage to a gate owned by the local authority but they had not made a statement of complaint or indicated the cost of the damage.

The court heard a lawful demand was made to Mr Mills to produce his policy and documentation within 10 days at a garda station of his choice, however, he failed to do so.

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Sgt Daly said he was waiting on official confirmation of the defendants previous record, however, Mr Mills addressed Judge Bernadette Owens and stated he had '101 previous convictions'.

Judge Bernadette Owens said Mr Mills is a young man with a considerable number of previous convictions.

She offered some subtle praise and stated the defendant's personal knowledge was 'filling a gap'.

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"You know more than the State do," she added.

Defence solicitor Anthony Feeney said his client Mr Mills is currently serving an eight month prison sentence for an unrelated matter and he is a father of a six year old child who he is in contact with and he provides support where possible.

"He has asked that if you are to consider a custodial sentence in relation to these charges that you allow it to run concurrently to his current sentence."

Judge Owens noted the facts of the case and referred to how when Gardaí came across the car Mr Mills was not in the vehicle.

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"There is a benefit to Mr Mills having pleaded guilty to the charges that are before the court and I am going to give him the benefit of that."

She imposed a six month custodial sentence, which she backdated from May 21 and she disqualified the defendant from driving for six years.

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