Derry man accused of making hoax calls to PSNI and ambulance service remanded

A man accused of making hoax calls to the PSNI and the ambulance service has been remanded in custody after a judge said it was 'just a step too far'.

Stephen Kennedy (29) of Leafair Park in Derry appeared charged with making a hoax call on June 3 and a charge of wasting police time on the same date.

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

He told the court that around 1.30pm on June 3 the ambulance service received a call that a man was being attacked by two asked men near the Foyle Bridge. 

Two ambulance vehicles attended as did 5 police vehicles but found nothing. 

The ambulance service had a number of the caller and police were able to link that number to the defendant. 

Police had been speaking to Kennedy earlier and knew he was at Altnagelvin Hospital and found him there. 

He initially told police his phone had been stolen but a search located one on him. 

Kennedy was said to have been intoxicated and then made what the police officer said was 'a significant statement' when he asked 'what happened at the bridge?'

The court heard that Kennedy had 43 previous convictions many of them for similar offences and was currently on bail for other offences and police said they had no confidence he would abide by any conditions. 

Defence counsel Stephen Chapman said that his client had a fairly low IQ and' severe learning difficulties '. 

He said that he had been unable to get his medication at the weekend and that could account for the alleged offending. 

The barrister said that the defendant was' on the thinnest of thin ice'. 

District Judge Barney McElholm said that he 'had strive not to send this man to jail'. 

He said that the defendant knew enough to make the statement about the bridge. 

The judge added that Kennedy should not be drinking at all. 

He revoked bail and remanded the accused in custody to appear again on June 24.