Laois man with 215 previous convictions is jailed
Image for illustration purposes
A LOCAL man with 215 previous convictions was given two six-month prison sentences for driving offences when he was brought before Portlaoise District Court.
The court was told that the defendant Sean Coss (35) with an address at Ross, Ballyfin is currently serving a prison sentence and is due for release on 31 October.
He was before the court charged with the criminal damage of a front door at Clonrooske View, Portlaoise on 17 November last year, making off without paying for goods valued at €87 from Glenbawn service station, Ballinakill Road, Abbeyleix and to driving without a licence and insurance at the same location on 23 January this year. He was also charged with dangerous driving and having no driving licence or insurance when stopped by gardaí on Ballyfin Road, Portlaoise on 2 January and engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Dolan’s service station, Kilcock, Co Kildare on 15 January.
Defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said that his client, “who is well-known to the court,” was pleading guilty to the charges.
He said that at the time of the offences, Mr Coss “was at large from the circuit court.” Judge Andrew Cody noted: “He has 215 previous convictions, 34 for driving without insurance.” He said he was convicting Mr Coss of the offences and would deal with two as sample charges and imposed six-month sentences on each to run consecutively, to commence on the termination of his current prison term and imposed 20-year driving bans on each of the charges.
