Former drug addict gets eight years for armed theft

A recovered drug addict who carried out two armed raids to pay back debts he had run up during his long-standing habit has been sentenced to eight years by Judge Tony Hunt.

Larry Howe (aged 34) of Rossmore Drive, Ballyfermot, had 20 previous convictions in the District Court but wasn't charged with an offence serious enough to be dealt with in the Circuit Court until he was on a methadone programme and was drug free.