100 convictions, 2 poetry awards
A court was told yesterday that a criminal with more than one hundred convictions won two prestigious national literary awards while he was in jail.
Glen Smith, 36, from Cornshell Fields in Derry, won the Kessler Award as well as the Listowel Writers' Award for prose and poetry while in custody in Maghaberry Prison awaiting sentencing for further criminal offences.
The city's crown court was told that both of Smith's entries were published after he'd won the awards. A character reference on behalf of Smith stated, "his writing skills are incredible".
Yesterday Smith was jailed for 15 months and put on licence for a further 21 months when he admitted charges of burglary and assault at Badger's Bar in Derry last May and to stealing 2,000 from the Riverview Bar in Ballykelly, County Derry, last August.
Smith's younger brother, Stephen, 20, from Florence Street in Derry, was given a 12 month sentence, suspended for two years, and disqualified from driving for two years when he pleaded guilty to offences associated with his brother's August offences.
Judge Desmond Marrinan was told that Glen Smith stole the 2,000 from an unlocked safe in the Riverview Bar with the intention of paying for his daughter's first communion dress. Instead, he lost the money betting on horses.
In relation to the Badger's Bar offence in Derry last May, Smith stole 650, almost all of which was recovered. He ran off when he was confronted by a member of staff.
His brother Stephen also admitted burglary of the Riverview Bar and burglary with intent to steal at Nicholl's Garage in Greysteel last August.
He further pleaded guilty to driving at both locations while disqualified and without insurance.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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