Probation report sought on man on trespass and drugs charges

24-year-old man James Raymond of Claremount Estate, Commons Road, Navan appeared on charges for the sale and supply of drugs and trespass on a different date where he was in a garden with an axe wearing a balaclava.

The defendant pleaded guilty on Tuesday at Trim District Court in respect of the two incidents which occurred on separate dates in June and October last year.

His solicitor Maurice Regan explained that the defendant’s father died in the middle of Covid and he fell into addiction.

He described the defendant fell into a trap through his addiction of trying to cover the cost. He wished to plead guilty at the outset to the drug offences. He pointed out that the defendant made full admissions and was fully open and honest with the Garda. The defendant lost his job with a refrigeration company after spending three years in college.

He pointed out that the defendant had good support, with his mother in court as she normally was. She told the Judge about her son.

Judge McKiernan remarked whatever about taking drugs it was far worse selling them to somebody else.

The Judge provided the defendant with the opportunity to engage with the probation service, putting the case back to July 7 to obtain a report on him.

Sergeant Alan Ratcliffe related that Garda were called to a location in Navan on June 15 last year where there was a male in a garden with an axe and wearing a balaclava. He was reported to have tapped on a window with the axe.

The incident relating to the drugs took place on October 18 last year. The defendant acted evasively when a Garda was on mobile patrol. He was conveyed to Navan Garda Station and was found to have €470 in cash and quantities of two types of drugs with a combined value of over €500.

The defendant made admissions. He had eight previous convictions, a number for possession of drugs.