Burglar jailed for threat to kill man during break-in

Burglar jailed for threat to kill man during break-in

26 November 2014

A DOWNPATRICK man has been jailed for nine months for threatening to kill and man and committing a GBH assault during a burglary.

Twenty six year-old Kyle Curran, was sentenced at Downpatrick Crown Court on Wednesday after admitting committing the offences on May 15 last year.

The court heard that Curran, of Hunter’s Mill, threatened to kill Mr. Gerard Canavan during a telephone call. Shortly after making the threat, Curran arrived outside Mr. Canavan’s home at Irish Street in Downpatrick with a gang, who forced their way into the property.

Mr. Canavan was so frightened he attempted to escape by climbing out a window on to a sill. He fell from the sill sustaining a fractured back and other injuries.

A prosecution lawyer said he remains traumatised by the break-in.

The court heard that the events unfolded when Mr. Canavan received phone calls on the early evening of May 15 from his former partner who, he said, was upset and drunk. His former partner was with Curran at the time of the calls.

The pair exchanged text messages throughout the evening and during one of the phone calls Mr. Canavan overheard the defendant say he was going to kill him.

Curran later kicked down Mr. Canavan’s door prompting him to climb on to the window ledge. Following his fall from the ledge, the court heard that Mr. Canavan had to wear a back brace for a year.

Curran initially denied the incident had happened, even after being shown CCTV footage of himself. However, he pleaded eventually pleaded guilty at a hearing earlier this month.

Defence barrister Eugene Grant QC said Mr. Canavan and his former partner had had several emotional telephone calls throughout the early evening of May 15. He explained that Curran reacted after overhearing these calls.

Curran, he said, was very remorseful about his reaction on the night and said he had been experiencing an extremely unstable period at the time.

When Curran is released following his prison sentence he must spent one year on licence.