One-legged man tried to force his way into house

http://www.herald.ie/news/courts/onelegged-man-tried-to-force-his-way-into-house-29088048.html

Eimear Cotter – 22 February 2013 10:40 AM

A DUBLIN man who caused over €3,500 worth of damage to a patio door when he tried to force it open was disturbed when an off-duty garda heard the house alarm and went to investigate.

Eddie Valentine (38) was spotted in the garden of the house in south Dublin by an off-duty garda who was visiting a friend in the area.
A court heard that Valentine caused over €3,500 worth of damage to the back patio door after he tried to force his way into the house.
Judge Bridget Reilly ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to March. Valentine, of Carrickmount Drive, in Rathfarnham, was found guilty before Dun Laoghaire District Court of charges of trespass and criminal damage.
The incident took place at Finsbury Park in Churchtown on June 26 last year.
Garda Gavin Ryan said he heard the house alarm going off shortly before lunch and when we went to check it, he saw Valentine leaving the front garden.
Garda Ryan said the man he saw, Valentine, was on crutches and only had one leg. In cross-examination, the garda said he was 100pc sure the man he saw leaving the property was Valentine.
The homeowner, Winnifred Jeffers, said when she left the house that morning she checked the windows and doors were all closed and the alarm was on.
Buckled
When she returned to the house, she said the patio door and frame were badly buckled, and it appeared that an implement had been used to try and force open the door. The cost of repairing the damage was €3,726.
Defence solicitor Ronnie Lynam said there was no evidence that Valentine caused the damage to the back patio door. However, Judge Reilly said she believed the State had made its case.
The court heard Valentine has 57 previous convictions, including previous for burglary and trespass.
The court previously heard Valentine has been getting in trouble over nearly 20 years. Valentine also lost his leg due to his drug use. Judge Reilly also ordered a probation report.