Derry teenager facing 60 theft and fraud charges has been banned from entering every business premise in Northern Ireland

An 18-year-old man who allegedly ‘preyed upon’ and ‘stole’ from numerous shops in Derry by using counterfeit money has been banned from entering any business premises in Northern Ireland.

Thomas Christopher Stokes, of Cornshell Fields, faces over sixty charges related to theft, attempted theft and fraud, arising from the possession and use of counterfeit money between July 30, 2016 and March 8, 2017.

The court heard that sixteen businesses are alleged to have fallen victim to the defendant’s actions over an eight-month period.

Businesses known to be affected, including Paolos Pizzas, Long’s Supermarket, Homebase, Tasty Bites, M&S, The Wee Shop, Spar and Centra were said to have incurred a loss of £1,400 as a result of theft.

It was revealed that when the defendant’s property was searched, thirty-two £50 counterfeit notes, amounting to £1,600, were found ‘under his bed’.

He denied ‘any knowledge’ of the money and ‘has denied everything’.

A police officer said there are civilian witnesses, but ‘most identification’ comes from police and CCTV.

The officer opposed bail as he was ‘fearful of further offending’ and interference with witnesses as the case is part of a wider investigation.

Fake notes from the defendant’s property were found inside an envelope with a postal address on the back, leading to follow-up checks by police.

And it emerged that police are actively seeking other members of the travelling community, with four others thought to be involved, according to the PSNI.

A defence solicitor acting on behalf of Stokes explained that his client is not the only person living at the address where the counterfeit notes were found.

Challenging the officer’s point about further offending, the solicitor said police finding ‘all of the notes’ meant the risk of interference with witnesses had been ‘completely negated’.

He also made the case that his client could not interfere with witnesses as ‘all identifying witnesses are police officers’ and believed Stokes was entitled to a presumption of innocence.

District Judge Barney McElholm said notes were seized, ‘but what is to stop him from getting more’.

“It does not mean they have seized the entire stash or someone couldn’t go get more. They are receiving them by post, and the claim he received the last batch of these notes won’t wash with me,” he added.

Expressing concerns about the bail address, Judge McElholm said people residing at the defendant’s address are ‘frequent fliers when it comes to this court’ and he can ‘speak from experience’ having dealt with them at Derry Magistrates Court for fifteen years.

The District judge explained it is his primary duty to protect the public from harm, ‘it seems to me that the shop keepers and business people of this town have been preyed upon by this man.’

Suggesting Stokes would be granted bail by a higher court, Judge McElholm granted the defendant his own bail of £1,000 with a £750 surety to reside at Cornshell Fields, with strict conditions attached.

Stokes was ordered not to enter any shop, restaurant, bar or other business premises in Northern Ireland, has a curfew of 9am-9pm (to stop him from going into shops and it would have been made longer but the court is restricted to twelve hours), and will be electronically tagged.

He must not have any currency notes over £10 in value (as those found by police were £20 and £50 notes), and was warned if there’s any breach he will be remanded back into custody.

The defendant will appear before the court again on April 27.