fined | 

UCD law graduate caught with stolen bike ‘fell on hard times’, court is told

Elena Hutchinson (33) maintained the bike was “abandoned” when she took it without permission from outside a block of flats.

Andrew Phelan

Today at 02:30

A law graduate caught cycling a stolen bicycle in Dublin had a bright future but fell on “very hard times,” a court heard.

Elena Hutchinson (33) maintained the bike was “abandoned” when she took it without permission from outside a block of flats.

Judge Treasa Kelly fined her €200 at Dublin District Court.

Hutchinson, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property.

Dublin District Court heard gardaí found the accused cycling a bike in an erratic manner at Rathmines Road Lower on January 18.

When they stopped and spoke to her, she admitted she had taken it from outside Pearse Street flats earlier, Garda Sergent Derek Spain said.

The accused had previous convictions for offences including theft.

Hutchinson would say she found the bicycle unchained in a block of flats, her solicitor Colleen Gildernew said.

“I did it to survive,” the accused told the court.

Hutchinson, with a law degree from UCD, had had “what appeared to be a bright future” but fell on “very, very hard times”, Ms Gildernew said.

Hutchinson was dealing with mental health difficulties going back more than 10 years and found herself estranged from her family and homeless.

When she appeared in court, the accused had been in custody for several days after being refused bail and found that “very difficult”, Ms Gildernew said.

The judge took a charge of failing to appear in court on a previous date into consideration.