High ambitions | 

Dublin dad (31) jailed for selling cannabis to gardaí hoping to learn new skill in prison

The court heard the defendant had 34 previous convictions

Today at 07:10

A father of three jailed for ­selling cannabis to undercover gardaí hopes to learn a new skill in prison so he can better provide for his family, a court has heard.

Aaron Sharlott (31) is currently completing the Junior Certificate in Wheatfield Prison, but his goal is to get into the carpentry shop where he can learn a new skill.

Judge David McHugh imposed a two-month sentence, consecutive to a lengthy sentence which Sharlott is already serving.

The defendant, with an address at Wood Avens in Clondalkin, admitted counts of possession of cannabis for sale or supply at Rowlagh Shopping Centre, Neilstown, on March 5, 2020, again on May 26, 2020, and a third time on August 11, 2020.

Garda David Sheedy told Blanchardstown District Court that Sharlott sold street deals of cannabis, each valued at around €50, to undercover gardaí.

Gda Sheedy said Sharlott was also found with cannabis after gardaí searched an address at Chaplain’s Place in Clondalkin on May 5, 2021.

The court heard the defendant had 34 previous convictions.

He is currently serving a sentence and is not due for release until October 2025.

Defence solicitor Simon Fleming said that Sharlott, a father of three young children, was doing the best he could with his time in prison. He was studying for his Junior Cert, with the hope to complete his Leaving Certificate too.

Mr Fleming said Sharlott wanted to get into the carpentry shop, where he could learn a new skill.

Mr Fleming asked the judge to be lenient, saying this was an undercover garda operation, and the defendant’s guilty plea had been of massive benefit to the State, as witnesses were not required to come to court.