A MAN WHO robbed a passing cyclist by smashing a bike lock into his face has been jailed for five years at Dublin Central Criminal Court.

Jason Gumble (21) of O’Devaney Gardens, Dublin 7 pleaded guilty to robbery at North Circular Road on 15 April 2014, and to assaulting a garda at O’Devaney Gardens the following day.

Garda Liam Kavanagh told Caroline Cummins BL, prosecuting, that the victim Paul Roe was cycling home at 11.30pm that evening when he passed by an entrance to O’Devaney Gardens. Gumble “sprung from around a corner” and smashed a bicycle U-lock into his face.

He fell to the ground and was struck again with the lock before Gumble and another man robbed him of €100 and his bicycle.

Mr Roe was brought to the Mater Hospital where he received six stitches, and later underwent surgery to fix his broken cheek with a metal plate.

Mr Roe described Gumble to gardaí, who found him at O’Devaney Gardens the next morning. Gda Kavanagh said he behaved aggressively and abusively when approached. The bicycle was also found locked at the scene. The keys to the lock were found on Gumble, who headbutted Garda Niall Glackin while being arrested, breaking his nose.

Forensic analysis of blood samples taken from Gumble’s shoe and top matched the blood of Mr Roe and Gda Glackin.

Gumble has 97 previous convictions for a variety of offenses including assault, violent disorder, criminal damage, theft and trespass.

Gda Kavanagh agreed with Sandra Frayne BL, defending, that it was Gumble’s first time to appear in the Circuit Court but that he has been in trouble with the law since he was 12 years old and smoked cannabis for the first time on his 8th birthday.

Gda Kavanagh also agreed that Gumble has a problem with heroin and benzodiazepam.

Sentencing Gumble to seven years, with the last two years suspended, Judge Martin Nolan said that Gumble “demonstrated a very violent propensity” and that the injuries caused by using something like a lock as a weapon were “perfectly foreseeable”.

He ordered that Gumble remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18 months after his release.

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