A 24-year-old Derry man who is alleged to have carried out a string of burglaries in the Caw area of the city last week was today released on bail.
Ryan Harkin, 24, from Rockmills, is charged with having entered a garage at Bridgewater to steal motorbike leathers and other clothing, stealing a hat, jacket and cash to the value of £170.
Further to that, he was charged with possession of a Stanley knife used during a burglary, disorderly behaviour in Altnagelvin Hospital, stealing a bicycle, stealing a jacket and hat to the value of £75 or thereabouts.
Harkin faced further thefts of cash - in sterling and euros - a torch, an ipod, and a drill from homes at Waterfoot Park and Bridgewater.
All of the alleged offences are said to have taken place in the early hours of last Friday morning.
Harkin was arrested by police when they discovered him hiding in bushes near Waterfoot Park, wearing a leather motorcycle jacket, believed to have been stolen during his alleged crime spree.
The police constable believed the man to be under the influence of a cocktail of drugs; he was ‘foaming at the mouth’ and his ‘pupils were extremely dilated’.
Police were only able to speak to Harkin 20 hours later when some of the effects of the drugs had dissipated.
The defendant denied the charges, saying during police interview, 'that's one thing I don't do, burgle'.
District Judge Barney McElholm said he would give the defendant a chance.
He was granted his own bail of £1,000 to his address at Rock Mills with various bail conditions, including a curfew of 8pm-8am and no non-prescribed drugs.
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