Derry Court: 35-year-old remanded for series of thefts

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today that police believed there were 'no conditions that will stop' a man who has 54 previous convictions from entering shops and stealing.

David Monteith (35) of Duncreggan Road in Derry appeared charged with a series of thefts.

He was charged with stealing goods valued at £27 on April 27, entering a shop as a trespasser on August 11 and stealing items and entering Marks and Spencer on August 12 and stealing food and clothing.

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

He told the court that the defendant had breached his bail by entering an area of the city he is prohibited from.

The officer said that the shops involved in the alleged thefts were within that exclusion zone.

Bail was opposed due to the risk of re-offending and the court was told that when arrested the defendant 'was extremely under the influence of some substance.'

Defence solicitor Keith Kyle said the charges were shoplifting of a minor nature.

He said that Monteith was seeking help for his problems but 'there were blips along the way'.

District Judge Oonagh Mullan refused bail and remanded Monteith in custody to appear again on September 4.