22-year-old charged with burglary and assaulting man with golf club

Thomas Stokes, of Ferndale Close, is charged with burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, false imprisonment and common assault.

The 22-year-old is further charged with possessing a golf club with intent to commit grievous bodily harm and theft.

The charges relate to an alleged incident in the Eglinton Terrace area of the city on December 16, 2018.

A special sitting of Derry Magistrate’s Court heard allegations that the defendant’s DNA was found on the golf club used during the assault.

It is alleged that police received a report of a male screaming for help in the early hours of the morning of December 16.

On police arrival, the complainant had already been taken to hospital.

He later reported that he had been asleep in his home when he heard a thumping noise and then felt someone sitting on him.

The man claimed he was held down and then forced to lie on his stomach.

It is alleged there were several people in his home and he was struck a number of times with a golf club.

The court heard that the man attempted to escape from an open window and was allegedly ‘frog marched’ back into his house and kicked in the ribs.

He allegedly managed to escape through the window on a second attempt and went to a neighbours house, knowing they had security cameras.

It is alleged that some of the men approached him and chased him around a garden, before making off in a car.

The court heard that money had been taken from the complainants home and a ring was also allegedly stolen.

An investigating officer told the court that Stokes DNA was found on the golf club used in the alleged incident.

Opposing bail, the officer said that Stokes is a suspect in a wounding in Lancashire and police there wish to arrest him. He revealed there is also an outstanding warrant in respect of the defendant for breach of a community order in another part of England.

He also told the court the proposed bail address was unsuitable as a local housing association had already raised concerns about breaches of the lockdown regulations and anti-social behaviour at the address.

The officer said that ‘police would not be happy for him to return there’.

Defence counsel Sean Doherty said his client lives at the address with his partner, their children and his brother.

He said Stokes has a limited record and during police interview made the case he knew the complainant ‘had been in his house on many occasions and had purchased drugs from the complainant’.

Mr Doherty said his client is ‘adamant’ he was not involved and could provide a £500 cash surety if granted bail.

District Judge Peter King refused bail stating the 22-year-old was ‘not a suitable candidate’.

The judge said he had concerns about Stokes not adhering to bail conditions and committing further offences.

Stokes was remanded in custody to appear in court again on June 4.