A BELFAST man stopped by police for no insurance was found to be an on-the-run prisoner with 299 previous convictions.
James Daniel Carlin had been allowed out on home leave from Maghaberry Prison in February 2015 while serving a 21-month sentence for burglary, thef of a vehicle, driving while disqualified, having no insurance and receiving stolen goods.
The Prison Service had circulated details of the 37-year-old, of John Street, Town Parks, including a number of scars he had along with several tattoos.
Belfast Crown Court was told that it wasn't until 13 months later that Carlin was eventually tracked down by police on patrol.
The judge heard that Carlin had 299 previous convictions, 55 of which were for driving whilst disqualified.
Defence barrister Ian Turkington told the court that there had been a "truly remarkable transformation'' in Carlin since he was arrested for being unlawfully at large.
The lawyer told Judge Kerr that Carlin had engaged fully with Probation Service while on licence who had now assessed him, even with his 299 previous convictions, as being a "low risk of re-offending''.
"That is a truly remarkable assessment by the expert author of this report.''
Judge Kerr said he noted the contents of the probation report but added: "I am not satisfied about his future behaviour.
"The proper way to deal with this case is to defer sentence for six months.
"During those six months Mr Carlin is not to commit any further offences; he must live at a notified address; he must continue to engage with the various statutory agencies and there must be a positive pre-sentence report at the end of that period.
"The appropriate sentence for being unlawfully at large is one of 12 months in prison. In my view the appropriate sentence for driving whilst disqualified is one of 18 months in prison.
"Those sentences should be consecutive bringing a total period in custody of 30 months''. He was also banned from driving for three years.
Carlin was released on contuining bail.
