Teen broke into car in multi storey car park

Richard Jones, of Jefferson Court, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and theft on July 29, last year.

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard the injured party parked her car in the multi-storey car park for around 45 minutes.

When she returned the window had been smashed and her iPhone was missing.

A palm print was found on the car which matched the 19-year-old.

Jones was arrested and during police interview claimed that he disposed of the phone when he realised it was locked.

The phone, worth almost £60, has never been returned to the owner.

A defence solicitor told the court Jones was struggling with mental health issues at the time because he had discovered his father was actually his step father.

He said this led the teen to have a breakdown and he began committing offences.

The solicitor told the court the defendant was currently completing a community service order and was engaging with probation.

Passing sentence, District Judge Barney McElholm said ‘I don’t have any information about the people who own the car. I would hazard a guess they are not particularly wealthy either but he sees fit to break into their car and steal’.

The judge also ordered Jones to pay £200 compensation.