Man accused of spitting in bus driver's face and throwing traffic cone refused bail at Derry Court
A man charged with assaulting a bus driver by allegedly spitting at the driver's face, and who is accused of throwing a traffic cone at the vehicle was refused bail and remanded in custody when he appeared before the Derry Magistrate's Court.
Frankie Lynn (21) from Rockmills in the Strand Road area of the city, is alleged to have committed the assault offence on Monday, March 9.
Lynn is also charged with attempting to damage or destroy a Translink bus on the same day by throwing a traffic cone at the vehicle as it was being driven along Strand Road.
He is further charged with three counts of causing criminal damage to fittings inside Rockmills and with indecent behaviour outside Rockmills on the same date.
Objecting to bail, a police officer told Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter that the bus driver saw a man picking up and hitting the bus with a traffic cone. The driver got off the bus to challenge the man.
The court heard that the man allegedly approached the bus driver in an aggressive manner and spat into his face while holding a bunch of white flowers.
Later on the same day the police received a report of a man causing criminal damage to fittings in the Rock Mills complex. The police viewed the footage which allegedly showed Lynn carrying a bunch of white flowers.
Lynn was arrested on Wednesday last but made no comment during interview.
The police witness said the defendant, who has 56 previous criminal convictions, was currently on Crown Court bail charged with escaping from lawful custody.
"There is a clear case of re-offending regarding this defendant. He is a danger to the public and I believe he could not be managed by bail conditions", the officer claimed.
Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said he believed the case involving the bus 'was a weak enough case'.
He said the defendant had 'addiction issues' but had been on bail without incident since December.
Judge Prenter said that there was a clear risk of reoffending and added he did not believe the defendant could be managed by conditions.
Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded in custody until March 25.