Derry Court: Man with 35 previous convictions remanded on assault of female

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how a man who was in a relationship with a female for only two weeks has been charged with assaulting her twice in that time period.

Lukasz Rudnik of Great James Street in Derry was charged with assault on a female on April 1 and also between March 25 to 26 as well as a charge of criminal damage to a phone.

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

He told the court that police were called to a report of a distressed female calling for help.

Police were told by a witness that he had seen the couple arguing and called to the door to check everything was okay.

The witness said the woman was 'highly distressed' when she answered the door bit the defendant came and closed the door.

The woman told police that the defendant had been arguing with her and tried to grab some keys. She said he then became 'highly irate' and put her in fear of being assaulted.

The woman told police that a week previously a similar incident has occurred when she said the defendant pushed his fist into her chest.

At interview Rudnik denied the offences and said while there had been an argument nothing physical had occurred.

Bail was opposed due to the fact there was no suitable address available and the defendant had 35 previous convictions.

Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that his client coukd be bailed with a curfew and tag to an address agreed by the PSNI.

Deputy District Judge John Rea said given the defendant's record there was a real risk of re-offending.

He remanded Rudnik in custody to appear again on April 27.