Derry man (33) breached bail by having mobile phone

A man has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrates Court after breaching his bail conditions by having a mobile phone. 

Sean Houston (33) of Upper Violet Street in Derry was charged with, on February 13, breaching his bail by being in possession of a mobile phone. 

Houston had previously been released on bail for drugs charges with one of the conditions being that he cannot have a mobile.

The incident occurred when police stopped a car under the misuse of drugs act. The officers at the scene searched the car and Houston and found the phone on him but were not aware of his bail conditions. 

Upon becoming aware, police went to a block of flats where the defendant had gone and Houston ran away, throwing away the phone which police have yet to find.

Bail was objected to as police believe there is a clear risk of reoffending and an officer said a mobile phone was central to the original charges. 

Defence solicitor Roma McGeady said that Houston had simply panicked, adding that he had not breached any other bail conditions since his last appearance in court in January.

District Judge Barney McElhom told Houston that, if he wanted to make bail, he would have to tell police where the phone is, revoked bail.