Derry man with 55 previous convictions charged with stealing a charity box

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with stealing a charity box and a series of driving offences. 

Matthew Grant (22) of Hawthorn Drive in Derry appeared charged with the theft of the charity box on February 8.

He was also charged with drunk in charge of a vehicle, driving while disqualified, the theft of a vehicle and other thefts.

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

The court heard that a member of the public reported a vehicle facing the wrong way on the Dungiven Road and they believed the driver was intoxicated. 

When police arrived the vehicle appeared to have been abandoned. 

The suspect driver, the defendant, was seen walking up the road and when police called on him to stop he was said to have thrown a number of items over a wall.

Grant was stopped and found to be unsteady on his feet and after he blew 0 on a preliminary breath test he failed a field impairment test 'falling over' a number of times.

The owner of the vehicle reported that it had been taken from outside the house and also that kitchen cupboards had been searched and a sum of money taken. 

Police also received a report from a local supermarket that a suspect matching Grant had been seen lifting a charity box. 

Police recovered several items from the area where they had been thrown including the charity box. 

Grant told police he had taken Xanax. 

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Police opposed bail due to the risk of reoffending and said Grant had 55 previous convictions. 

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said the defendant had an address and added there could be 'a considerable delay' in the case.

Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody to appear again on February 27.