Wicklow man gets six years for knifepoint robbery

A Co Wicklow cocaine addict who drank tea with a Chinese woman after terrorising her at knifepoint in her apartment has been jailed for six years by Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

John Cash (aged 31) of Hazlewood, Bray told gardaí he established “a bond” with the woman he held captive while he attempted to rob her apartment at St Catherine's Close, Dublin 8 of cash on February 15, 2006.

“She sat there drinking tea with me. She didn't ask to leave….she's a very nice girl.”

Detective Garda Aidan Carroll said the woman known as “Ling” was initially terrified when Cash entered her bedroom that morning with two knives demanding her for money, but later noticed his hands were shaking and that he seemed to be in pain.

He told prosecuting counsel, Ms Kathleen Noctor BL, that Ling's husband left the front door open when he went to work around 7am and Cash, who had been “shooting up” with a drugs cocktail at the apartment block, came in looking for money for more drugs.

He said Ling saw a figure at her bedroom door and called out “Alex” thinking it was the apartment's other occupant.

He said she heard the figure reply “yes” and shut the door only to open it again and run towards her with what she described as a “sleek” knife.

Detective Garda Carroll said Ling sat up in bed, wearing only underwear, and saw Cash threatening her with two knives demanding her wallet.

He said she explained to him that her wallet had been stolen the day before but told him to take her bag where he found €10 and loose coins and some RNB in various denominations.

He said she noticed as he held one of the knives to her that his hands were shaking and he seemed angry.

Detective Garda Carroll said Ling began to cry when Cash received a phone call and announced: “David, I've got a nice girl here.

He said Cash assured her he wouldn't harm her.

He said Cash pocketed a silver ring with fake diamonds and ordered Ling to put clothes on because he wanted to search the other bedroom for money.

He said Cash found a gold necklace and ring with fake diamonds in the other bedroom and continued on into the sitting room where he told Ling to make tea.

He said Ling noticed, as they were going into the sitting room, that Cash had difficulty picking up one of the knives he dropped on the floor.

He said Cash showed Ling a photo of his family and spoke to her about his background as they sat drinking tea.

The garda said when Cash stood up and walked to the bathroom after drinking the tea, Ling noticed he was limping.

He said Cash shaved and washed in the bathroom and then changed into her husband's clothes, leaving his own on the floor.

He said Cash hugged Ling when he left the apartment two hours later and claimed to gardai in his subsequent arrest that he felt a bond with her.

Detective Garda Carroll told Ms Noctor that Cash was arrested following his release from Loughlinstown Hospital two days later, where he was admitted for drugs overdose, and claimed in interview that he found the knives he used to threaten Ling in the apartment kitchen.

Detective Garda Carroll said the father-of-two told gardai he was desperated for more drugs didn't think there was anyone in the apartment when he entered otherwise he would have “legged it.”

He said he couldn't find any valuables in the apartment and wasn't able to take the computer and video Ling offered him once he bonded with her.

“As I got to know her, I couldn't take them off her.”

He said he kept her captive and cut the phone line because he didn't want her raising the alarm before he got down to the foreign exchange to convert the RMB into euro.

Judge Tony Hunt said he was impressed with Cash's co-operation with gardaí and took his difficult background with drug addiction and an alcoholic father into consideration.

“I think there was genuine co-operation and genuine remorse expressed for the ordeal subjected on Ms Ling.”

He suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.