A Coolock man, who Judge Orla Crowe has described as having accrued “a remarkably large amount of convictions for a man so very young”, has been jailed after he stole an “expensive ” electric bike from a then 14-year-old boy who suffers from autism.
Dylan Kavanagh (24) of Clare Hall, Donaghmede, Dublin 13, who has a baby on the way, stole the bike from the boy when the child was riding it outside Londis on Parkgate Street, Dublin 8 on the 10th of June 2024.
Detective Garda Sean Harrington of the Bridewell Garda station gave evidence before in court in relation to the incident, which took place at 6:30pm.
The court heard that the stolen bike was a Fiido D4S worth approximately €890.
On the evening in question, the accused approached the boy asking him if he could “have a shot of his bike” saying he wanted to go and see his daughter.
The accused, who was wearing a balaclava at the time, then climbed onto the crossbar of the bike saying, “let me get on the bike or I’ll smash your teeth in.”
The youth, who had unsuccessfully tired to get away from his assailant, then handed over the bike before Kavanagh made off with it.
The boy described being “in fear” and feeling “shocked and worried” after the incident.
After a significant amount of CCTV was harvested from the Londis store and another premises, the accused was identified and arrested on the 19th of December 2024.
He was conveyed to the Bridewell Garda station before making efforts to retrieve the bike, however Detective Harrington said that this was “too late”.
Kavanagh has 151 previous convictions, ten of which are for theft, including two robberies.
He also has 18 previous convictions under the Misuse of Drugs Act, 80 under the Road Traffic Act, one for endangerment, and one for assault causing harm.
His defending counsel, Simon Matthews BL argued that Kavanagh suffers from “mental health difficulties, drug difficulties, and learning difficulties” and that he has “struggled” since an early age with behavioural difficulties.
Despite his youth, he was previously sentenced to four years in prison for robberies, and has also committed other serious offences, Mr. Matthews said.
Matthews noted that his client has spent an“incredibly long about of time in custody serving sentences”, and that his offending recommenced almost immediately after his release.
“He’s a different man when he’s not using substances,” he pleaded, adding that Kavanagh “never really had a formal education” and that he was expelled from school around the age of 13 or 14.
He has a “mild intellectual difficulty” which has “never been property diagnosed” and has experienced personal difficulties including his half brother dying tragically, he argued.
His mother lost control over him in circumstances where his father was “not the best influence”, Mr. Matthews said, adding that the accused would “lash out at his sisters”.
Judge Orla Crowe said that the injured party had the “misfortune of encountering the accused” and that the child “who has his own issues handed over the bike” which he did not get back.
She said that the theft had taken place on a “bright” evening when the child was just out cycling around.
Judge Crowe noted that the accused has “a remarkably large amount of convictions for a man so very young”, and that he has been abusing drugs since an early age.
Noting the aggravating factors in the case, she set a headline sentence of four years before reducing this to a term of three years with the final six months suspended.
Kavanagh must also place himself under the supervision of the probations services for a period of 12 months from his release in other to facilitate his rehabilitation for “a dismal spiral of offending to date for someone who is so young,” the court said.