A 17-year-old Derry teenager was remanded in custody when he appeared at the city’s Magistrates Court today charged with a number of offences, including attempted armed robbery.
The teen, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared on two sets of charges after what the judge described as a 'spree of offending' over the weekend.
The court heard the offences alleged to have been committed by the defendant at the weekend had brought him to police attention regarding separate offences from May 14.
Alleged offences from the weekend include the attempted robbery of £220, possession of an offensive weapon - namely a knife - with intent to commit a robbery, grievous bodily harm (GBH) and burglary of a dwelling.
The matters from May include entering a property as a trespasser, attempted GBH, possession of hammer, assault and criminal damage to a door.
A police constable said he could connect the teen to eleven offences over three days.
On May 14, the court was told police were alerted to a disturbance at a flat on John Street involving three males, one of which was the defendant.
They were alleged to have broken into the flat with a hammer and demanded money before assaulting the occupant with the weapon.
The assailants fled the scene before police arrived but were tracked down nearby.
The police constable said CCTV showed the defendant in possession of the hammer before entering the flat.
On Friday last, October 14, someone was seen acting suspiciously outside a flat - a male had his head pressed up against a window and appeared to be listening to determine whether anyone was inside.
The male then kicked the door and went inside.
The court was told a 'very succinct description' of the offender's appearance and clothing was provided to police by an eye-witness.
This person was said to know the defendant and a short time later saw him coming around the corner 'wearing the same clothing' as the intruder.
Twenty-five minutes after that incident, an attempted robbery was reported to police by a lone female working in a shop.
She had been threatened by a male who entered the premises with a knife.
The court heard as the male fled members of the public 'gave chase', and at one point the defendant brandished the knife giving them cause to believe he was going to inflict 'serious damage'.
'Not only' had the teenager committed attempted robbery, but 'burglary before', the police constable said.
He explained the same address had been burgled on October 6 and the details were the same which led police to believe 'the defendant was responsible' on that occasion.
The court was told the 17-year-old had 20 previous convictions, four of which were for burglary.
Previously, he had not committed 'violent offences', however, the police constable said the defendant was on police and court bail for attempted robbery and theft at Waterside Train Station in February.
Following that, he was also arrested for drugs and public order offences.
The court was told the teen had been granted bail previously, with the latest on October 4 which included a condition prohibiting him from consuming alcohol or drugs.
The court heard witnesses from the incident on Friday night last, as well as police officers, believed the defendant to be 'under the influence' and unsteady on his feet due to intoxication, which amounted to a breach of bail.
Police objected to bail stating they had a duty to 'protect the public'.
The constable said the defendant had been coming to police attention for 'more serious offending', adding 'an adult charged with these offences could expect a maximum sentence of life imprisonment'.
A defence solicitor explained that her client was due to meet with social workers this Wednesday to help him deal with his drug and alcohol issues.
She said they were worried he would continue to offend if he was not given the appropriate help.
Denying bail, District Judge Barney McElholm said he had granted bail on October 4 as the defendant had 'a short stay' in custody which he thought might have discouraged him from further offending.
"He has just gone completely off the rails… and gone on a spree of offending… quite frankly I don't trust him," added Judge McElholm.
He said it was his 'primary duty to protect the public' and the defendant had been given an opportunity, 'yet continues to offend more frequently and more seriously'.
Bail was revoked on existing matters and the defendant was remanded in custody on the two new matters.
The judge said he could make a fresh bail application to the High Court.
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