Derry Court: Bail for youth who has breached bail 11 times since March

A 17-year-old youth with 34 breaches of bail has appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court today.

The youth who cannot be named due to his age appeared charged with an alcohol breach of his bail. 

A police officer told the court that the defendant's mother reported that her bank card had been stolen and alcohol purchased on it.

Around the same time police received a report of a missing person from a children's home.

Shortly afterwards police received a report of a car being stolen from the City Hotel and a police officer checked CCTV and claimed it was the defendant and another resident of the children's home who were acting suspiciously. 

The stolen car was then reported to be in the Republic and Gardai had to use a stinger to stop the vehicle and the defendant and the other person were handed over to the PSNI. 

The defendant failed a breath test and was released on police bail on the driving charge. 

The officer said that the defendant had breached bail 11 times since March and said he was a 'danger to himself and others.'

Bail was opposed due to the 'very high risk of re-offending' and the fact that the accused consumed alcohol and drove and thus was a 'danger to every person on the road.'

The court heard that secure accommodation was available for the defendant and if granted bail he would be taken to the accommodation. 

Bail was granted and the youth will appear again next month.