Pensioner was robbed of €250 for drink

A DESTITUTE man who was desperate for drink followed a pensioner into a post office and robbed €250 from him as he was at the counter paying a bill.

Detective Garda Darragh Murray told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Carsten Michael Mielka, aged 41, formerly of Waterpark Close, Carrigaline, Co Cork, committed the offence at 2pm on March 20.

He spotted a 66-year-old man with money in his hand going into the post office and followed him.

“The injured party placed €250 on the counter. At this stage Mielka leaned over the injured party and grabbed the €250 and tried to make his escape,” Det Murray testified.

“The injured party grabbed him and they fell to the ground. Mielka dropped the €250 and tussled with the injured party.

“This was a very brief encounter. He picked up €50 and made good his escape.

“There was good CCTV at Albert Road and the defendant was identified from that.”

“The injured party has made a good recovery,” Det Murray said.

The defendant had previous convictions but only one similar to his latest offence.

He is currently serving a jail sentence until May 2012 from Cork District in respect of another robbery.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin imposed a one-year jail sentence on Mielka for the latest robbery, backdated to June.

Of Mielka, the judge noted from background reports: “He is now destitute and homeless.”

Dermot Sheehan, defence barrister, said: “Drinking is his problem, and not taking his prescription medication. He had no money in his pocket that day and he was desperate for a drink. He saw the opportunity that presented itself. He is ill at ease and unsure about what is going on.”

The judge said it was a troubling and unfortunate case and recommended that the defendant get whatever psychiatric treatment was available in prison.

Mielka admitted robbing €50 from the post office.