Woman who beat and robbed pensioner jailed for 4 years and given 7-year road ban

David Raleigh

A woman who beat and robbed a pensioner, and then stole his jeep, has been jailed for five years with the final 12 months suspended and given a seven-year road ban.

Judge Colin Daly said the attack and robbery by Mandy Milstein was “shameful and disgusting”.

The victim, a totally innocent 77-year old man, was left with “serious and lasting psychological trauma”, said the judge.

Milstein (36), of Castle Park, Moyross, Limerick, jumped into the victim’s jeep as it slowed in traffic at St Alphonsus Street, Limerick City, on March 9th, 2025.

Milstein “got into the front passenger seat, attacked (the victim) and put him in a headlock”, Judge Daly told Milstein’s sentencing hearing, held at Limerick Circuit Court.

The judge said it was alleged that a male accomplice also got into the victim’s jeep and “attacked” the victim as “Ms Milstein went through his pockets and took his phone”.

The judge said the victim managed to escape from the jeep with the vehicle’s keys, but he was pursued on foot by Milstein and her alleged accomplice.

“They followed him, knocked him to the ground and continued to assault him. Ms Milstein stole his wallet and keys and they drove off in the vehicle,” said the judge.

Gardaí were alerted and located the victim’s jeep a short time later and Milstein was arrested the following day near where the jeep was recovered.

During interviews under caution, Milstein did not make any admissions; however she later pleaded guilty after she was charged at Limerick District Court.

Judge Daly said the attack was “extremely violent and harrowing” and, he said, the victim “suffered some tough soft tissue injuries and what appears to be serious and lasting psychological trauma”.

“This was a terrible robbery of a vulnerable elderly man that involved a significant level of physical violence,” said the judge.

“She (Milstein) and her accomplice attacked the victim while he was in a jeep. When (the victim) escaped, they continued their attack, knocking him to the ground, hitting and punching him while he was on the ground and searching through his pockets for the keys to his jeep.”

The judge said Milstein had previous convictions, including two for robbery, two for burglary and 23 for theft, which he said he regarded as “further aggravating factors”.

Judge Daly said: “She said she had very little memory of this very shameful and disgusting incident due to the level of her intoxication on drugs at the time”.

“However, this is not the case for the victim, for whom the memory of this will live with him for a long time.”

Considering mitigation, the judge took into account Milstein’s guilty plea, and he said a report by the probation services stated Milstein had made “good strides in prison where she has been on remand since March”.

“She is attending education services, has enhanced status and there is a positive governor’s report.”

Judge Daly said Milstein expressed remorse but “she says she has very little recollection of the evening."

“She says it was an eye-opening experience for her regarding her addiction. She comes before the court as a chronic addict and has had mental health difficulties from time to time,” said the judge.

Milstein pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and to unlawful seizure of the victim’s jeep by force.

Judge Daly imposed concurrent five-year jail sentences with the final year suspended on both counts, as well as a seven-year road ban.

The judge backdated Milstein’s sentence to last March following an application by her barrister, Erin O’Hagan, who informed the court Milstein had been in custody on remand since then.