A 26-year-old man assaulted an unsuspecting victim as he was talking on his phone causing him to drop it into the River Foyle, Derry Magistrates’ Court has heard.

Sean Pyper, of Great James’ Street, appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court facing charges of theft on August 25, and common assault, disorderly behaviour, assaulting and resisting police, and criminal damage of a phone on August 29.

A police officer objected to a proposed bail address saying the defendant had previously been accused of assaulting a man who lives there.

Outlining the case, he said that on August 25 around 1.25pm the owner of The Hair Stand in the Richmond Centre reported that her iPhone had been stolen.

The court heard that CCTV footage identified the defendant as the person responsible and he was tracked to Cash Maker on Shipquay.

When police arrived he was sitting on a sofa and denied having the phone, however, it was found ‘stuffed down the side of the sofa’.

Pyper told police officers: “I saw it, thought it was my friend’s, and took it.”

The defendant was 28-day charged and released on bail.

Four days later police received a report of a male being assaulted at Foyle Street car park.

When police arrived they observed a man with a cut above his eye which was ‘bleeding significantly’.

Pyper was said to have approached the man from behind as he was standing beside railings at the River Foyle talking on his phone, before proceeding to punch him, causing him to drop his phone into the river.

The court was told that CCTV captured the incident.

Police arrested the 26-year-old on John Street where he struggled and had to be restrained by several officers.

Bail was objected to due to fears of reoffending and an inability to abide by court conditions.

The officer also said that Pyper was supposed to be residing at an address on Great James’ Street when he was found ‘lying on the street’, and told them he wasn’t living at the address.

Defence solicitor Keith Kyle said his client’s criminal record primarily consists of offences committed in England, while his record in this jurisdiction is ‘moderate’.

He explained that Pyper’s contacts are largely based in the Republic of Ireland, and the only address available to him was at Great James’ Street.

Mr Kyle said his client’s offending is brought about by alcohol consumption and asked for him to be given an opportunity to prove himself on bail with alcohol conditions attached.

District Judge Barney McElholm granted Pyper his own bail of £750, with a surety of £750 provided by the person living at the Great James’ Street bail address.

He is prohibited from consuming alcohol and non-prescribed drugs, has a curfew of 9.30pm-7am, and must have no contact with the alleged injured parties in the case.

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