A Derry man has been remanded in custody for breaching his bail terms the day after he was issued with a final warning by a judge.
Thomas Grimes, 29, of no fixed abode, was on bail for charges of burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and breach of a non-molestation order on September 4 of this year.
A police officer said the breach was reported by G4S when the defendant, who has a curfew of 10pm, failed to return home until 11.30pm on December 13.
The defendant told police he was late because his taxi ‘couldn’t pick him up in the icy road conditions’.
The PSNI objected to bail, saying it was his fifth breach in the past month. On other occasions Grimes used the same excuse about a late taxi and said he had been with his girlfriend.
He appeared on December 12 when he was warned there could be no further breaches by District Judge Barney McElholm.
The police officer said: “(Grimes) just can’t seem to stay in his house, it’s really not difficult to make sure he’s there by 10pm.
“He’s on bail for burglary, and there have been a number of burglaries reported coming up to Christmas.”
He said police believe the curfew is relevant as it gives the victim, his ex-partner, ‘peace of mind when she’s at home with her children’.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told the court that no new offences were committed and there was no evidence his client had consumed alcohol. He added: “(Grimes) had gone to see his girlfriend in Donegal and the taxi was supposed to come back at 9.30 but didn’t arrive until 11pm.”
Judge McElholm said: “What part did he not understand on Tuesday about it being his final warning?
“He has breached bail over and over again.”
Bail was revoked and the defendant remanded in custody to appear in court by way of video link on January 11.
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