Galway’s most prolific burglar back on the prowl

A heroin addict who was dubbed “the most prolific burglar in Galway City” by Gardai back in 2009, was back before the court again where he received a six-month sentence for another burglary.

Jonathan Harlowe (35), with addresses in Droim Chaoin, Bishop O’Donnell Road, and Boireann Beg, Roscam, has 79 previous convictions and has been struggling with a heroin addiction for the past 15 years.

He appeared in custody before Galway District Court where he pleaded guilty to burglary at a student’s apartment in Dún Aras, Rahoon, on June 20 last where he stole €20 worth of prescription pills from her bedroom.

He also pleaded guilty to trespassing in the driveway of a home in Coill Tíre, Doughiska,  on February 8 last and to stealing €15 in coins from a car parked in the driveway.

The court heard a man was lying on his couch watching TV when he saw the roof light come on his car which was parked in the driveway outside.   He looked out and saw Harlowe, whom he knew to see, rummaging through the car.  He shouted at him and Harlowe fled, but not before taking €15 in coins from the car.

On June 20 last at 12.30 pm, Harlowe climbed in a small bathroom window of an unoccupied student flat in Dún Aras.  The female student returned later that evening to find the place ransacked.  She reported the burglary and noticed prescription medication, which had been left beside her bed, was missing.

Garda viewed CCTV from the apartment complex and recognised Harlowe in the footage.

He admitted to both offences when later questioned but said he could not remember much as he had taken drugs at the time.

Defence solicitor, Sean Acton, said his client had been struggling with addiction for 15 years and all of his previous convictions were committed to feed that addiction.

He said Harlowe was no longer taking the “most serious drug” (heroin) and was on methadone treatment for that. However, he was now addicted to prescription drugs and that was reflected in the theft of the pills from the apartment.

He said Harlowe had gone in voluntarily to the Garda Station and made admissions. He had felt very ashamed and disgusted with himself as he had been trying to change his ways.

In relation to the burglary at the student’s flat, Mr Acton said Harlowe saw the prescription tablets while looking in the window and that was all he took.

“He does not want this life for himself.  He’s been fighting addiction for 15 years,” he added.

Reading victim impact statements, which had been handed into court, Judge Deirdre Gearty said the offences were “despicable” as people’s homes and property had been violated by Harlowe’s intrusions.

There was a pattern to his offending behaviour and it had not changed in nature over the years, she added.

She said she had no option but impose a six-month sentence on each offence with the sentences to run concurrently.  The sentences were backdated to July 4, when he went into custody.

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