Rapper star of Bressie's Teenage Kicks show jailed for year over string of thefts

Calvin McNamara (18) was given a year in jail after pleading guilty to a litany of thefts and burglaries, which he carried out while he was subject to a previous court order not to re-offend.

McNamara, who was previously described by another judge as "a one-man theft industry", shot to fame alongside other aspiring singers and musicians in the RTE programme, Bressie's Teenage Kicks.

SPREE

Despite having been given a chance to avoid jail last April and comply with the probationary services, McNamara, from Hartigan Villas, Moyross, went on another crime spree around his native Limerick.

He pleaded guilty yesterday at the District Court to stealing laptops, satellite navigation systems, wallets and groceries.

On April 14, he entered Limerick Institute of Technology and stole a wallet, a sat nav, and a laptop worth €600.

He returned to the college the following day and stole another laptop worth €600.

On April 24, McNamara stole €7 worth of groceries from Eurospar, at Watch House Cross in Limerick.

And on May 5, he entered JFK School, on Ennis Road, Limerick, to commit a theft.

The budding rap artist, who had 18 previous convictions for theft, also pleaded guilty to stealing a postman's bike at Esso Service Station on Ennis Road, Limerick.

Sergeant Donal Cronin, from Henry Street garda station, said McNamara had been subject to a six-month probation order for "numerous charges".

Sgt Cronin said: "These included numerous charges for theft, burglaries, criminal damage, drugs, unlawful taking (of a vehicle), trespassing, firearms and offensive weapons, between October 2013 and January 2015."

Solicitor Sarah Ryan said McNamara "sees an opportunity and takes it", but never intended to commit any of his crimes.

"He's an opportunist," she told the court.

"He's a difficult young man to work out what's going on inside his head.

"He works well with the probation services and is said by them to be 'very pleasant' to deal with," Ms Ryan added.

She told the court McNamara has a "drug problem" and "abuses tablets".

PROBATION

Last April, McNamara was given the probation act after pleading guilty to breaking into several houses and schools, as well a hospital.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage, trespass and possession of various implements, including an iron bar and a glass shattering tool.

McNamara, who committed most of the offences while still a juvenile, also stole a number of mobile phones, laptops and a Trocaire money box from the Parochial House in Moyross.

Judge Marian O'Leary jailed McNamara for 12 months.