Man charged with stealing cash and cigarettes from supermarket

Before North Antrim Magistrates' Court was Brendan Joseph Letters (26) of Stroanshesk Park in Ballycastle.

He appeared from Maghaberry Prison via video link.

Letters is charged with robbery, following an incident in Coleraine on December 13, last year.

Detective Constable Wilkinson told the court that the defendant had entered the Spar shop on the Castlerock Road in Coleraine, armed with a beer bottle. He stole cash and cigarettes.

Objecting to bail, the detective told the court that police felt that Letters was likely to re-offend, and that at the time of the incident, an arrest warrant had been issued for him, as he had not appeared at a court sitting.

Letters' solicitor Gareth Greene, said that he accepted his client had some difficulties in the past attending court, but said that Mr Letters' father had offered to put up a cash surety if his son was granted bail.

District Judge Richard Wilson said that Letters had an 'undistinguished record' and referred to 13 previous arrest warrants that had been issued on the defendant.

The Judge said that there was a 'distinct possibility' that he would not appear in court and that he could re-offend.

Bail was refused. Letters was remanded in custody for one week.