Teen mother-of-one convicted for Dublin 'honey-trap' theft

on 25/10/2012 18:31:06

A 16-year-old girl has been remanded on bail pending sentence for stealing from a man who was offered sex during a "honey-trap" style theft.

The young mother-of-one pleaded guilty today in the Dublin Children's Court to two theft charges and she has also admitted a begging offence.

Garda Fiona Deevy told Judge Ann Ryan that at Blooms Lane in central Dublin, a man had come out of a pub and was approached by two females, including the girl.

The man was hugged and enticed down a lane with an offer of sex and had €40, a gold necklace and his mobile phone stolen.

The court heard that the girl was involved in a similarly styled theft at Smock Alley, Dublin 2, on July 29 last, where another man had his iPhone stolen.

The girl, who is from Romania, was accompanied to her hearing by her mother and an interpreter translated the proceedings for them.

Defence counsel Aoife McNickle said it was worrying that the girl, who has no prior criminal convictions, has come before the court at such a young age for this kind of offence.

Judge Ryan adjourned sentencing the teen until a date in December to allow time for a pre-sentence probation report to be prepared.

The girl will also have to appear again at the same court next month to answer another charge for attempted theft, which allegedly took place at Fade Street, in Dublin city-centre's south-side, on a date in August.