Man charged with daylight robbery

A 19-year-old Limavady man who was released from prison on Saturday has been charged with stealing a handbag in broad daylight in Limavady, just around the corner from a police station.
LIDL Car park Limavady. INLV2115-303KDRLIDL Car park Limavady. INLV2115-303KDR
LIDL Car park Limavady. INLV2115-303KDR

Michael Connors, of Glenbeg Walk in Limavady appeared at the local Magistrate’s Court charged with stealing the handbag from a 62-year-old woman in the Lidl supermarket carpark at around 12 noon on May 18.

He also faced a charge of trying to use false information in a bank, criminal damage to a police car, assaulting a police officer and resisting police again all are alleged to have occurred on May 18.

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

He said that around 12 noon on Monday a 62-year-old woman was walking in the Lidl car park when a man ran up behind her and grabbed her handbag. A struggle ensued and the woman’s purse fell out before the thief made off on a bike.

Witnesses gave police a description of the perpetrator and CCTV was examined.

Later a man entered a local bank stating he wanted to withdraw £200 from his aunt’s account but when asked some questions about the account he couldn’t answer.

The transaction was refused and the man became abusive and left.

Later a bank teller saw police stopping Connors and told them he was the man in the bank.

When Connors was approached by officers he allegedly ran at them knocking one to the ground.

When placed in a police car he was said to have spat in it causing it to need cleaning.

The police officer opposed bail stating he believed Connors would not turn up for his trial as he had had arrest warrants issued for him in the past.

Defence solicitor Ms Donna McCauley said that the CCTV had not yet been made available to the defence and said this case could take some time.

District Judge Liam McNally said there was a real fear Connors would not turn up for trial and the fact that he had only been released from prison when this offence was alleged to have occurred meant he was not suitable for bail.

Connors was remanded in custody to appear again On June 18.

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