Man remanded in custody for mobile phones thefts from Derry shopping centre

A man accused of stealing a substantial number of mobile phones from the EE store in Foyleside in Derry was alleged to have been trying to sell them a short distance away.

Shane Kavanagh (27) of Patrick Street in Derry appeared at the local Magistrate's Court today charged with entering the EE premises and stealing mobile phones and iPads.

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

The court heard that shortly after 7am police were alerted to the presence of a male in the EE store in Foyleside.

They attended and searched the premises but did not find anyone there.

The back office had been ransacked and a box of mobile phones was found near an exit.

Police were then alerted that CCTV had shown a male matching the description at the nearby Primark store and as they were making their way there a member of the public told them a man was trying to sell mobile phones outside Primark.

Kavanagh was arrested and fou d in possession of mobile phones that matched those taken from the EE store.

The officer told the court that all the phones were recovered but some of them were damaged.

The court heard that police believed as many as 90 phones could have been stolen.

At interview the defendant denied that it was him in the CCTV footage and said he could not recall anything until his arrest.

The police officer said that Kavanagh had only been released from custody on December 16 and was on bail for other charges.

Defence solicitor Paddy McGurk said that it could be sometime before this case would be dealt with.

He said the defendant could be released with 'stringent conditions' such as an electronic tag.

Deputy District Judge Stephen Keown said Kavanagh had a 'poor record' and they were very serious offences involving a substantial quantity of high value goods.

He said that the risk of re-offending was too great and refused bail.

Kavanagh was remanded in custody to appear again on January 19.