Serial offender with 100+ convictions has 14-month sentence backdated in Dublin appeal
Lesley Hopkins, 39, faced 46 charges involving 20 gardaí. A judge backdated her 14-month sentence to March 2026, crediting time already served.
46 charges, 20 gardaí: serial offender's sentence backdated on appeal
A Dublin woman with more than 100 previous convictions has had her 14-month jail sentence backdated to March 2026, following an appeal heard by the District Court Appeals Court, courtsnewsireland.ie reports.
Lesley Hopkins (39) faced a total of 46 charges involving 20 separate garda members. Her convictions in the District Court included 26 incidents of theft, 11 offences of failing to appear in court, three counts of possessing stolen goods, and two charges of attempting to commit an indictable offence, among others.
She received two six-month sentences and a two-month sentence for three separate theft offences, with all remaining charges taken into consideration.
Sergeant Tom O'Connor gave formal evidence at the appeal hearing, confirming that Hopkins had over a hundred previous convictions, including counts of assault, theft, and handling stolen property. He said she had been in custody since March.
Hopkins' defence solicitor told the court his client accepted the sentence and was not attempting to conceal anything from the court. He said she is currently serving a sentence for burglary and has a release date of August 2027.
The solicitor acknowledged that the 14-month sentence was appropriate given Hopkins' record. He said his client had experienced problems with drugs and alcohol, which she has since addressed while in custody. He asked Judge Elizabeth Maguire to backdate the matter and credit the time already served.
Judge Maguire said she was glad Hopkins was dealing with the issues that had troubled her and expressed hope that she would continue on that path. She varied the District Court order to take time already served into account, backdating the 14-month sentence to March 2026.
Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)