A BELFAST man who broke into the home of a deaf and blind 91-year old and who robbed the pensioner as he slept has been jailed for a year and a half.
Jailing Gerard Patrick Skelly, Judge Alistair Devlin told the 38-year old he was a"determined and dogged serial offender" whose actions left the vulnerable and disabled victim "absolutely terrified."
Skelly (39) from Norglen Drive, will also serve 18 months on supervised licence upon his release.
Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard Skelly had 210 previous offences, prompting Judge Devlin to brand his criminal record "appalling."
Prior to sentencing, Judge Devlin was told that Skelly admitted five charges arising from two burglaries in Ballynahinch, which occurred in the early hours of July 23 last year.
Police were alerted to the Ballynahinch break-ins, and at around 7.40am that morning, officers approached a Ford Mondeo which was stationery but with its engine running close to Skelly's west Belfast home.
Skelly was in the driver's seat and appeared to be drunk. The car was searched and several items that had been stolen from the two houses hours before where found in the vehicle, including the bicycle.
During police interviews, Skelly denied the break-ins and verbally abused officers.
Skelly was forensically linked to one of the burglaries via his footwear, and he subsequently admitted five charges including burglary and possessing of a knife in a public place.
Defence barrister Michael Boyd said that, while it was accepted that the burglaries were serious, no threats were issued or violence used. But, he said, Skelly accepted that if he did not change his behaviour he will "spend most of the rest of his life in prison".
