A getaway driver for a failed cash van robbery has been sentenced to seven years after the court heard he had been disqualified from driving 11 times before the incident.

Judge Patrick McCartan asked the arresting garda if Paul Norton (26) was a regular “wheelman” or getaway driver, noting that he has 71 previous convictions for road traffic matters and two for robbery and attempted robbery.

The judge also noted that several of Norton’s convictions were for having false number plates on his vehicle. “A very serious picture emerges from his record,” the judge said.

The garda told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she had no knowledge of Norton being a career wheelman.

Judge McCartan imposed a seven year sentence with the final two years suspended. He also disqualified Norton from driving for life, telling him: “You should never be seen behind the wheel again.”

Norton of Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, Dublin pleaded guilty to attempted robbery at the Northside Shopping Centre, Oscar Traynor Road on June 6, 2012.

Garda Fiona Divilly told prosecuting counsel Justin McQuade BL that a G4S cash van driver was making a delivery to the EBS in the shopping centre. He was bringing in a final cash box containing €30,000 when he noticed a motorbike with two men on it near-by.

As the delivery man was entering the building society a man in a motorbike helmet grabbed the cash box and told him to hand it over.

The raider then fled but was tackled by a security man and held until gardaí arrived. He was later sentenced to three years with 12 months suspended after an early guilty plea.

Gda Divilly said she was in a patrol car when she got a call saying the getaway driver was in an underpass under the shopping centre.

She went to the scene and saw Norton on a motorbike. She tried to block the underpass exit with her car but Norton sped up the footpath and onto the road.

Gardaí chased him and saw him driving the wrong way up the road. Norton was then thrown from the bike after breaking a red light and swerving to avoid a JCB. Gardaí found him lying near-by and accompanied him to hospital.

Later in interview Norton claimed he had been asked to give someone a lift and that he didn’t know anything about a robbery.

He said he didn’t know the gardaí were chasing him as he couldn’t hear the sirens over the noise of the motorbike.

His first trial did not go ahead as he was shot in the leg the night before. His second trial was adjourned after a car crashed into a taxi carrying Norton. He entered a guilty plea on a third trial date.

Defence counsel Eoin Cole BL said his client had a good work record as a painter and decorator before the death of the father and uncle. Counsel said his life has been in turmoil since then.