‘Record’ breaker | 

Petty crim, who tried to steal phone from tourist, has clocked up 896 criminal convictions, court hears

Jennifer Armstrong (48) carried out a litany of crimes around Dublin city centre, including trying to steal a phone from a tourist taking photos.

Andrew Phelan

Today at 06:44

A petty criminal with one of Ireland’s longest-ever records has now clocked up a staggering 896 previous convictions, a court heard.

Jennifer Armstrong (48) carried out a litany of crimes around Dublin city centre, including trying to steal a phone from a tourist taking photos.

In a series of disturbances last year, she was also arrested for dropping and smashing bottles of wine “from a height” in a shop, and being a “nuisance” to the public and businesses.

Judge Treasa Kelly adjourned the case at Dublin District Court for a pre-sentence probation report.

Armstrong pleaded guilty to public order, theft and criminal damage offences.

The court heard last April 13, she tried to steal a phone from a tourist taking photographs at Merchant’s Arch, Temple Bar. The victim managed to get her phone back.

When a garda tried to help Armstrong after finding her drunk on Parkgate Street on April 25, she became aggressive, swinging her arms, trying to hit him and shouting expletives.

Last May 3, she was arrested for aggressively throwing food around from a homeless shelter van at the GPO on O’Connell Street.

On May 22, gardaí saw her struggling with staff at Circle K, Westmoreland Street. She had dropped bottles of wine “from a height” from a shelf, smashing them at a cost of €300.

She was found drunk, abusive and struggling to stand at a North Earl Street restaurant, where she had broken plates and dishes, on November 16.

Two days later, she threatened to cause damage at a Temple Bar restaurant, grabbed cutlery from outside tables and threw it on the ground.

At Spar on Capel Street on November 25, staff asked Armstrong to stop interfering with customers. She smashed bottles of wine and beer worth more than €80.

Garda Sergeant Derek Spain said most of her prior convictions were for similar offences.

Defence solicitor Eoin Lysaght said Armstong had been in and out of prison all her life. On release, she found herself in a “vicious circle” with nowhere to go.