Northern Ireland

Burglar jailed for stealing holy picture

The defendant had pleaded guilty to charges including the burglary of the school and taking a ‘holy picture’ (flie picture) 
The defendant had pleaded guilty to charges including the burglary of the school and taking a ‘holy picture’ (flie picture)  The defendant had pleaded guilty to charges including the burglary of the school and taking a ‘holy picture’ (flie picture) 

A BURGLAR who stole a holy picture from a Co Derry school has been sentenced to four months.

Gareth Steven Patrick Hyndman (42), formerly with an address in Portglenone, Co Antrim but now living in Kilrea, committed offences on August 23 this year at St Conor’s College in Kilrea.

He previously pleaded guilty to charges including the burglary of the school and taking a ‘holy picture’ and going equipped for burglary with a crowbar, mask, gloves and screwdrivers.

Hyndman also had cannabis in his possession and more of the class-B drug was found during a search of his home. He had 186 previous convictions.

Liam McStay, defending, said Hyndman, who appeared before the court via video link from prison, had been in custody “most of his adult life”.

District Judge Peter King told Coleraine Magistrates Court he was at a loss about what to do with the defendant said the record of 186 previous convictions stretched to 20 pages.

The judge said the Probation Service had little confidence in Hyndman complying with any order.

Jailing the defendant for four months, the judge said the defendant had “regrettably” turned his life into a “rotating door” of custody and release.