Derry Court: Man with two items of designer clothing stopped by PSNI

Derry Magistrate's Court heard today how when police stopped a man they found two items of designer clothing valued at almost £300 they believed to be stolen.

Darren Canning (40) of Rinmore Drive in Derry was charged with possessing stolen goods on July 15.

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

The court heard that police were on patrol and observed the defendant who turned away quickly on seeing the police. 

Police stopped him and saw a yellow substance on his lips so they carried out a search. 

In the course of the search they found a Hugo Boss jumper and a designer jacket valued at £299 and Canning was arrested for handling stolen goods.

He told police he had bought the goods from a blonde haired woman in William Street for £50.

When cautioned he said 'I had a good idea they were stolen because of the price.'

The goods had been taken from the Frasers store in Foyleside and had not been paid for. 

Later Canning said he thought they were counterfeit. 

A police officer opposed bail and said police did not 'believe a word of this.'

He said that the defendant had 88 previous convictions 22 of them for theft or deception and had served custodial sentences in the past. 

The officer said that Canning had 'an horrendous bail history' and was addicted to prescription drugs and would steal to feed that habit. 

Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client was a man with problems. 

He said he had thought he was buying counterfeit goods not stolen. 

The solicitor said that his client had been injured in a shooting some years ago and was taking heavy medication. 

District Judge Oonagh Mullan said that Canning had 'an atrocious record' with a large number of offences being for theft and deception. 

She said he had been given a suspended sentence in September 2022 when a judge had given him the benefit of the doubt. 

She refused bail and remanded Canning in custody to appear again on July 24.