A CLARE woman armed with an air gun and posing as an escort robbed a man in Ennis after falsely claiming she was a garda, a court has heard.
Clara Chapman (27) carried out the robbery of €300 during the incident that occurred in a residential area of the town in November 2019.
Chapman, with a former address at Church View apartments, Main Street, Miltown Malbay and with previous addresses in Ennis, pleaded guilty to a single count of robbery.
At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Eoin Garavan sentenced Chapman to two and a half years in prison, saying the offence “warrants a custodial sentence, clearly”.
The judge described the robbery, which occurred around 2pm, as a “nasty, planned and ruthlessly executed crime”.
In evidence, detective garda Niamh O’Malley said that on November 21, 2019 a 36-year-old man contacted Chapman after viewing her profile on the Locanto website.
Det O’Malley said the man was looking at adverts for “young Irish escorts” and arranged to meet the accused for a “sexual encounter” for which a €100 price was agreed.
The court heard the man and the accused met the following day at a petrol station at Captain Mac’s cross in Ennis and both could be seen on CCTV walking towards the nearby Castlewood Park estate.
Det O’Malley said both parties went to a lane-way and it is alleged Chapman demanded €100 from the man on the pretence of having sex with him.
The man handed over the money and Chapman then took an imitation firearm from her handbag and demanded a further €200, the court heard.
Det O’Malley agreed with prosecuting counsel, Lorcan Connolly BL, that Chapman said, “I’m not an escort. I’m a guard and I have you on tape”.
Chapman left the scene and Det O’Malley explained how camera footage from a passing Dublin Coach bus, helped identify her.
Chapman has 46 previous convictions including 12 for drug related offences and 18 for theft related offences.
In garda interviews, Chapman made admissions and identified herself in the footage.
The court heard she told gardaí she arranged the meet the victim for sex but never intended having sex. She said her intention was to take his money.
Defence counsel, Aaron Desmond BL told the court his client had long standing addiction issues, endured a turbulent childhood and was in a “toxic relationship” at the time of this offence.
Counsel said his client apologises for her actions and is genuinely remorseful.
He said Chapman has undertaken educational programmes while in custody and has made great strides.
Judge Garavan said of the robbery, “This was a set-up. This was a trap.”
The judge said this must have been a “horrific experience” for the victim “who might’ve been expecting something quite different for his €100”.
Judge Garavan also praised the “eagle-eyed” garda for securing camera footage from the passing bus.
Taking into account all aggravating and mitigating factors, including the “humiliation” of the victim, Judge Garavan imposed a four-year prison sentence with the final 18 months suspended.
The sentence is to commence immediately and will be served concurrent to a sentence Chapman is currently serving.