County Derry man who threatened to kill his grandmother remanded in custody

A man has been remanded in custody charged with assaulting and threatening to kill his grandmother. 

Curtis Ewing (23) of no fixed abode in Magherafelt appeared at Derry Magistrate's Court charged with assaulting his grandmother on March 21, threatening to kill her and threatening to damage property on the same date.

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

The court was told that police were called by Ewing's grandmother who said he had become aggressive towards her and put her in fear of assault. 

She left the premises and some time later Ewing returned to the house and started banging on the windows. 

The grandmother said Ewing had come to the house demanding food and clean clothes and made her feel she was going to be assaulted.

The woman said that she tried to talk to Ewing and he demanded money and cigarettes before telling his grandmother he had a brick and 'I will put your windows in and I will kill you if I see you'.

At 12.58am Ewing was said to have returned and banged on the door.

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A defence solicitor said that the case presented 'some difficulty' but said Ewing was denying the charges. 

He said the defendant had 'a chequered history' but was trying to clean up his act. 

The solicitor said that condition could be imposed to keep the defendant out of Magherafelt.

Deputy District Judge Alan White said Ewing had 'an atrocious record' and had served a prison sentence in the last number of years and there was a serious risk of further offences.

Ewing was remanded in custody to appear again on April 17.