Nenagh Circuit Court was told that 29 year George Hackett has 170 previous convictions.
George Hackett who is originally from Mid Tipp but with an address at 3 Ferndale, Ballinacurra Road, Limerick pleaded guilty to one count of burglary at a house in Beechwood Lawns, Monakeeba, Thurles on the 23rd of April 2014.
Nenagh Circuit Court heard the 29 year old serial offender, who was armed with a knife, entered the premises in the early hours, and threatened to harm both the female homeowner and her 9 year old son before escaping with a sum of money.
He was arrested a fortnight later on May 8th in Limerick and has been in custody since.
During the sentencing hearing yesterday afternoon Detective Sergeant James White gave evidence of the impact the terrifying incident had on both victims to this day.
The court also heard that the 29 year old has 170 previous convictions – 46 for burglary, 15 for theft, 2 for robbery as well as convictions for a host of other wide ranging offences.
Judge Tom Teehan described the burglary at the top end of the scale in terms of its seriousness.
He sentenced George Hackett to 12 years but suspended 7 of them while it was also backdated to May 2014 to take into account the time he's already spent behind bars since his arrest.
