A 15 year-old male, who was at large after escaping from a police car in Dungiven on Monday night, was among three youths who appeared before Magherafelt Magistrates Court this morning.
The court heard that that the trio, all from County Derry, were arrested in Magherafelt after they were apprehended by members of the public for stealing £441.94 worth of clothing from a clothes shop in the town on Tuesday morning.
The 15 year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was charged with being unlawfully at large, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assault on police, common assault, possessing an offensive weapon and theft.
He was warned about his attitude when he sniggered during court proceedings.
An investigating officer told the court that the male had escaped from a police vehicle which had stopped in Dungiven to deal with an incident on Monday evening.
The court heard that when the car stopped, the youth dived through the space between the passenger and driver seats and exited the vehicle through the driver’s door
The defendant kicked a female officer in the face when she attempted to restrain him, the court heard.
A 16 year-old female was charged with attempted theft, criminal damage, two counts of burglary and attempted criminal damage.
A 17 year-old male was also charged possessing an offensive weapon, theft, criminal damage, two counts of burglary, attempted burglary and two counts of criminal damage.
The court heard that the 16 year-old female and the 17 year-old male, who cannot be named, had stolen items from a local computer shop including iPads, iPhones and iMac, as well as hairdressing equipment from a hairdressers shop on November 7.
An investigating officer told the court that he was opposed to bail for all three defendants due to a high risk of reoffending.
A defence solicitor said: “This was some sort of mad spree which has now come to an end.”
District Judge Alan White refused bail on the grounds that all three youths were each classed as a serious risk of reoffending.
They will appear back before Magherafelt Magistrates Court on December 3.
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