’Foolish and juvenile’ - barred offender pushed trolley into Aldi glass doors - Courts News Ireland

A Nigerian man with a history of public order and criminal damage offending ran a trolley into glass doors at Aldi in a “foolish and juvenile” response to discovering he was barred from the premises, a court has heard. Housseyn Chaoui (29), with an address at Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and public order offences at Aldi,

A Nigerian man with a history of public order and criminal damage offending ran a trolley into glass doors at Aldi in a “foolish and juvenile” response to discovering he was barred from the premises, a court has heard.

Housseyn Chaoui (29), with an address at Cookstown Industrial Estate, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and public order offences at Aldi, Belgard Road, Tallaght, on July 13, 2024.

Garda Stephanie Maher told Tallaght District Court that once the defendant realised he was barred from the store, he became upset and began acting aggressively.

The court heard that he threw items onto the floor, including a bottle of shaving foam, before taking a shopping trolley and pushing it with force into the glass entrance doors.

Chaoui engaged in threatening and abusive behaviour during the incident. Gardaí arrested him and he was taken to Tallaght Garda Station.

Defending solicitor Eddie O’Connor said the defendant, who is originally from Nigeria and has been living in Ireland for the past two and a half years, accepted his behaviour was wrong and had apologised to staff and gardaí.

The court heard that Chaoui has seven previous convictions, including for public order, criminal damage, theft and assault.

In sentencing, Judge Peter White described the incident as “foolish and juvenile”, but said he took into account the defendant’s guilty plea and his apology before imposing a two-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.