Three men charged over alleged 'crime spree' from Armagh to County Derry

Three men have appeared in court this morning charged with a list of offences a defence counsel described as a 'dog's dinner of kennel proportions'.

Dean Dutton (20), Alan Johnston (63) and Curtis Rodgers (23) appeared via video link at Coleraine Magistrates Court this morning charged in connection to a number of incidents on April 5 2022.

Dutton, of Falls Road, Belfast, spoke to confirm he understood the charges against him, namely handling stolen goods, theft and criminal damage, but did not seek bail.

Appearing after Dutton, Curtis Rodgers, of Portadown Road, Armagh, again spoke to confirm he understood the charges against him.

The defendant faces charges of failing to report and remain, handling stolen goods, theft, driving while unaccompanied without L plates, no insurance and breach of a violent offences order.

The court heard how police first became aware of the incident, described by an officer in court as a 'crime spree', when they attended a road traffic collision on the Drumcroon Road, Garvagh on Tuesday April 5 at around 9.00pm.

A member of the public had reported that a number of males had run off from the vehicle, which had collided with concrete posts and an aluminium gate in the area and sustained substantial damage.

Police searched the area, locating a purse next to the vehicle, which enquiries found had been stolen from a car in Stewartstown, County Tyrone earlier that day.

Other items later determined as having been stolen were also located in the vicinity.

At around 11.00pm, police received a phone call from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) reporting that a male had been injured in a road traffic collision.

On attending the report, they located the co-accused, Alan Johnston, also of Portadown Road, Armagh.

Further enquiries uncovered a number of other related thefts had been carried out that day, where vehicles had been entered and items stolen.

As police retraced Johnston's movements throughout the day, they viewed CCTV footage from a filling station on Coleraine Street, Maghera, showing the defendant had driven into the station.

The footage showed the co-accused, Curtis Rodgers, driving the vehicle out of the station some time later, with the collision occurring around ten minutes after the defendants left Maghera.

During police interview, Rodgers alleged Johnston had held a firearm in his direction at a Johnston's address on the Portadown Road, where Rodgers had also been living.

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The defendant has been handed 200 hours of community service.

Defence for Rodgers said the defendant had conceded he was driving the car and admitted driving with no insurance, unaccompanied and without L plates.

In terms of breaching the violent offences order, defence said he had not 'stayed out overnight' as claimed by police, but that he simply hadn't made it home yet.

Judge White refused bail for Rodgers, saying there was a serious risk of further offending and that there was strong circumstantial evidence of a 'significant criminal enterprise'.

The final defendant to appear before the court, Alan Johnston, also made a bail application, which was again opposed by police.

The defendant was charged with handling stolen goods, driving while disqualified, failing to report an accident, having no insurance, two counts of theft and possession of a firearm.

The court heard how police had been made aware of the alleged firearm offence via the co-accused, Rodgers' interview.

Rodgers told police that Johnston had earlier that day 'pulled' the firearm and threatened to shoot him with it.

A search of Johnston's home located the firearm and at interview, he admitted to pointing the gun at the co-accused and saying 'click click' to indicate he would pull the trigger.

Defence for Johnston said the firearm was in fact a BB gun, or air pistol, and that the defendant had given police instructions as to where they would find it; under his pillow.

They pointed out that the defendant had told police at interview that he had scissors held to his neck during the journey from Armagh to Garvagh.

He also claimed he had 'got a beating' off-camera at the filling station in Maghera, and said this was why he had not driven the car out of the area.

Police responded by saying CCTV footage from the scene did not show Johnston appearing to be under any threat, and that he had returned to the vehicle after his co-accused.

They said a number of items had been located on Johnston's person in Garvagh, contained in a black plastic bag.

Defence said that Johnston had an address suitable for bail, and that he had given length answers to police questions.

They said there was a 'quaintness' about the defendant, pointed out his age and said there was a chance he could be in custody for months.

“This is a dog's dinner of kennel proportions,” they added.

Judge White said he had the 'deepest scepticism' over the defendant's allegations of duress and said he felt the incident was an 'ongoing, substantial criminal enterprise'.

He refused bail for both Rodgers and Johnston, and directed all three men to appear before Coleraine Magistrates Court via video link on April 25 2022.

Three to appear on firearm charges after County Derry collision

The charge relates to a traffic collision near Coleraine on Tuesday.