Mechanic faces court charged with robbing escorts in hotels

An unemployed mechanic has appeared in court accused of robbing three escorts at hotel rooms in the west of Ireland over a seven-month period.

At Ennis District Court, Det Sgt Dara O'Sullivan said that Lithuanian national Gediminas Zigmantas (34) made contact with the women through the Escort Ireland website.

Mr Zigmantas, of no fixed abode, faces three counts of robbery, with the latest alleged to have occurred at the Radisson Blu Hotel at Lough Atalia in Galway on May 11th last, where he is alleged to have robbed a woman of €1,700 in cash, an iPod and perfume.

He is also charged with robbing an iPad and iPod from a woman at Treacys West County Hotel on March 6th this year.

The man, who has no previous convictions, is also accused of robbing a woman of €400 in cash at the Victoria Hotel at Queen’s Street, Galway, on October 15th last, contrary to section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act. The detective confirmed to court that Mr Zigmantas was arrested in Cork on Monday while he was collecting his social welfare payment.

Judge Patrick Durcan remanded Mr Zigmantas in custody to appear in court next Wednesday.