Cork man who walked down street with stolen car stereo jailed

Gardaí were immediately suspicious of a man walking down the street carrying a car stereo with severed wiring hanging from the back of it, and now he has been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Judge Treasa Kelly imposed the sentence of eight months, backdated to November, on Stephen Hornibrook of Templeacre Ave, Gurranabraher, on a charge of possession of a screwdriver arising out of this incident.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the accused was seen at Bakers Rd with a car stereo with severed wires visible at the back. He also had a PlayStation in a plastic shopping bag.

This crime was detected on May 10, 2024.

He admitted that he had a screwdriver in order to commit thefts and that he was handling stolen property.

The accused had 132 convictions including five for theft, five for robbery, and eight for possession of knives and other articles.

Solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher said that the accused had been in custody since last November.

“He is someone with a lot of difficulties,” Mr Kelleher said. “His father died when he was 13. He has addiction issues going back to when he was 16 — everything from alcohol to drugs.

“He is going to school, doing woodwork, catching up on missed education. He is hoping to get things in order before he leaves prison.

“He hopes this cycle of addiction and reoffending will end.”