A man who tied up and robbed a gay man at knifepoint in his own home while on a suspended sentence has been jailed for five years.
Mark Kelly (25), of Conquer Hill Road, Clontarf, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery and false imprisonment on February 11th, 2002.
Kelly met the victim in an area frequented by the gay community on Dublin's Dame Street and after they had struck up a conversation the man brought him back to his house in Fairview.
Kelly took a knife in the kitchen and held it to his victim's chest demanding money or else he would stab him. He took him upstairs and made him lie in the bath where he tied his hands together with phone cord and his feet with his necktie.
He then made a number of homophobic taunts before taking some clothing, footwear and bottles of spirits and made his escape, taking also the victim's laptop. The man took 15 minutes to free himself and phoned the gardaí.
In total Kelly escaped with property valued at €3,900, with the laptop itself valued at €2,700 euro. None of the property was recovered.
Kelly was arrested on July 4th, 2002. He made detailed admissions in relation to the robbery. The court heard he was addicted to crack cocaine.
Kelly received a four-year sentence in October 2001 for robbery but had the three year balance suspended on the same day on certain terms and conditions. Following his arrest he was brought back to court and had the balance reactivated.