Derry man charged with harassment and assaulting police remanded

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates' Court charged with harassment and assaulting police.

Trevor Kelly (39) of Duncastle Road in Newbuildings was charged with the offences that were said to have occurred on March 31 this year. 

The harassment charges follow similar alleged offences from March 11 when police were called by the alleged injured party who claimed that Kelly had phoned her eleven times, berating her and making threats against her.

While police were there, he phoned again and was overheard making more threats.

The alleged injured party was under the influence of alcohol at the time and was unable to give a statement, although she indicated that she would be willing to do so in the future.

Kelly had been given bail the day before on March 10 and police were now opposed to bail as he has six other cases pending and 96 previous convictions.

He was also supposed to appear in court on Tuesday on charges of assault, criminal damage and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal but didn't appear.

Defence Barrister Stephen Chapman said that the allegations of harassment on March 11 came from an alleged injured party who was drunk at the time, adding that she still has not made any statement to the police and that the contact between the two seems to be mutual.

He also said that Kelly had co-operated with police and provided two phones and pin codes, although he was also charged with trying to headbutt police when they tried to arrest him on March 31.

Bail was refused and he will appear again on April 23.