Burglar with 93 previous convictions has jail sentence overturned

Fionnuala Walsh

A serial offender with 93 previous convictions who stole thousands of euro worth of items from restaurant staff rooms in Dublin city centre has had his 15-month jail sentence replaced with a fully suspended term on appeal.

Stepan Pavlov (46), with an address at New Cabra Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in the District Court to burglary in three separate incidents, contrary to section 12 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

The District Court Appeals Court on Thursday heard that on July 14th, 2023, Pavlov entered Murray’s Bar on O’Connell Street and went to the staff area where he stole over €1,000 worth of items from staff lockers.

Four months earlier, on March 10th, 2023, Pavlov had entered Chequer Lane on Exchequer Street, Dublin 2 and again went to the staff area where he stole a wallet and a laptop worth over €1,600.

On a third occasion on October 10th, 2023, Pavlov entered a restaurant on Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 and was seen rummaging through staff property. He was stopped and discovered to have a stolen purse in his possession worth €200.

He was given a total of 15 months in jail for the three charges in the District Court.

Pavlov has 93 previous convictions, including those for burglary and the possession of stolen property.

Defence counsel for Pavlov, Stephen O’Mahoney, told Judge James O’Donohoe that his client had embarked on the road to rehabilitation for his drug addiction.

He presented a letter from Coolmine Therapeutic Community, which he said gave a “gold standard” for his client’s efforts to rehabilitate.

Judge O’Donohoe told Pavlov that this was his “last chance saloon” and decided to suspend the sentence of 15 months for a period of two years.

The sentence was suspended on condition that Pavlov keep the peace, provide clear urine analysis on a monthly basis and stay out of the city centre without just cause.