By Eimear Dodd
A man with over 110 previous convictions who took over €22,000 worth of jewellery from a house in Dublin has been jailed.
Clive Dixon (53) of North Frederick Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to burglary on January 14, 2019 at a house in the Harold’s Cross area.
Dixon has 113 previous convictions, including 78 for burglary. He is currently serving a nine-year sentence, with the final four years suspended and an earliest release date in 2027.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that gardai observed a damaged glass of pane in the front door of the house when they arrived at the scene.
The homeowner noticed the damage and that a number of rooms had been entered on their return. They also saw the back sliding doors were ajar and a rock had been left on a bed upstairs.
Diamond earrings, an antique engagement ring, two watches including a Patek Philippe and a gold chain with a total value of €22,500 were taken, and have not been recovered. No victim impact statement was provided to the court. €500 worth of damage was caused to the door.
A plastic shopping bag containing a chisel tool, an empty water bottle and a toy car was found in the house.
Dixon’s DNA was identified following forensic analysis of the bag in September 2019. He was arrested in 2023 and when interviewed told gardai that he had been committing similar offences around the time, but couldn’t remember specifics due to a longstanding drug addiction, which he had since been addressing.
He told gardai that he was someone who had been “abusing his mind for 30 years with mind-altering drugs” and couldn’t say which acts he did or didn’t do. “My mind is completely blank,” he said and offered to give a DNA sample to gardai.
An investigating garda told Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, defending, that he couldn’t say why there had been a delay between the DNA match in 2019 and Dixon’s arrest in 2023.
It was further accepted that Dixon’s plea is valuable, that he has spent large periods of time in custody and has made extensive efforts to address his addiction issues.
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A number of reports and letters were handed to the court.
Ms Lawlor outlined to the court that Dixon had a difficult childhood and longstanding addiction issues, which he is dealing with.
Dixon is an enhanced prisoner, engaging in drugs counselling and attending school while in custody.
She said her client “put his hands up” and accepted responsibility, though he has no memory.
Ms Lawlor said there was no explanation for the delay and “why these matters were effectively behind a filing cabinet for three and a half years”.
She asked the court not to extend Dixon’s time in custody.
She asked the court not to extend Dixon’s time in custody.
Imposing a sentence of 32 months, Judge Martin Nolan noted Dixon has a long history of addiction and of offending.
He said the court had to infer the jewellery was sold to buy drugs, but that Dixon seems to have changed his life, according to the documents submitted to the court.