A Derry man accused of assaulting a female has been remanded in custody for breaching court orders by calling to her house and sending intimidating text messages.
Conor Kineton, 24, of Macneice Court, appeared in court charged in relation to two separate incidents. He’s charged with assaulting a female on September 14. And is further charged with theft, criminal damage, common assault and resisting police for offences linked to the same woman on December 12 of last year.
The 24-year-old was brought before the court for a breach of bail on March 16 and it was adjourned for him to provide written proof of medical appointments at the Northlands Centre.
The court heard an intensive programme is unlikely to start for another month but it was explained that the defendant has also been attending Narcotics Anonymous.
District Judge Barney McElholm said the 24-year-old had failed to attend court previously and had breached bail by contacting the alleged injured party. He was said to have been banging on the alleged victim’s front door looking for his bank card.
The judge added that Kineton should know that he is not allowed to go within a certain distance of the alleged injured party’s home.
A police officer told the court that Kineton called the alleged victim ‘a tout’ and has sent text messages complaining about being ‘locked up’. He explained that this woman has had the bank card for four months, yet this is the first time it has been brought up.
A defence solicitor asked the judge to consider releasing his client on bail.
In response Judge McElholm said: “What am I going to do, put him on a condition to take a smart pill every day?
“He’s not fit to be out on his own. He has contacted her before and just keeps doing it. He needs an address far enough away from the city, when the notion takes him he goes to her house.”
Refusing bail, the District Judge said that sending the alleged victim messages calling her a ‘tout’ was a form of ‘intimidation’.
Kineton was remanded in custody and the case taken to a court sitting on April 12 when he will appear by way of video link.
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