Derry Court: Man who threatened to kill former partner described as 'a violent and dangerous individual'

District Judge Barney McElholm today urged the alleged victim in a domestic violence case to 'consider her position' after a police officer said she had indicated she wanted to continue in a relationship with a man charged with threatening to kill her.

Gareth Wray (44) of Cornshell Fields in Derry appeared charged with threatening to kill the woman on January 2 and the offence was aggravated by domestic abuse.

The court heard that police were called at 4.45am by the alleged victim who said Wray, her former partner, had threatened to kill her and she believed that the threat was real.

The woman later changed her account and said she now believed Wray had threatened to kill himself rather than her.

Bail was opposed due to the fact Wray had 40 previous convictions some of them for domestic violence.

The officer said that the woman had indicated she wanted to resume her relationship with the defendant. 

Judge McElholm said that the woman was 'very foolish' and should have nothing to do with this man given his history of offending.

Describing Wray as 'a violent and dangerous individual' the judge said he would not consider bail to an address unless it was 'a considerable distance from here.'

He remanded Wray in custody to appear again on February 9.