Derry man refused bail after allegedly drawing blood cross on neighbour's door

A man accused of going to a neighbour's door armed with a knife and painting an X on the door in blood has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

Patrick Durose (44) of Abercorn Road in Derry was charged with making threats to kill, possessing a knife with intent to wound, assault on police and possessing class A drugs.

All of the offences were alleged to have occurred on September 5.

A police officer connected the accused to the charges and opposed bail.

He told the court police were called to a report of a man with a knife outside the reporting person's property.

The court heard the defendant could be seen with an 8 inch knife in his left hand and he was said to have made threats towards the man.

After being arrested the court heard Durose became 'increasingly aggressive' and lashed out at police.

He was said to have headbutted an officer.

A subsequent search of his property uncovered two knives, one of them located under a mattress, and a quantity of class A drugs.

At interview Durose said he had gone to the alleged injured party's flat to make a noise complaint.

Bail was opposed due to the risk of reoffending as he has 80 previous convictions and had shown 'zero remorse'.

The police officer said that there was no suitable address as they were neighbours.

Defence counsel Sinead Rogan said there had been noise issues in the past.

She said that her client would maintain that he was threatened first and then went to get a knife for protection.

The barrister argued that accused could be released on bail with suitable conditions.

District Judge Suzanne Rice said these were 'very serious charges' involving 'aggressive and threatening behaviour'.

She told Durose he appeared to be a 'volatile individual' and an 'unpredictable' individual.

The judge said there was a high risk of reoffending and refused bail.

Durose was remanded in custody and will appear again on October 1.