Friars at a parochial house detained a suspected burglar following a break-in at the building a court heard on Monday.
After detaining the suspect the several friars phoned police and reported the incident, the Magistrate’s Court in Derry was told. Before the court was Jordan Leighton, 24, with an address at Duncreggan Road in the city. He’s charged with burglary with intent to steal at the St. Joseph’s parish parochial house at Fairview Road in the Galliagh area of the city.
He’s further charged with causing criminal damage to a window in the parochial house by throwing a brick through it, going equipped for burglary and with possessing a knife. He’s alleged to have committed the offences just before 8am on Sunday.
The defendant is also charged with the attempted burglary of a nearby Spar supermarket and with causing criminal to the property less than an hour before his arrest at the parochial house.
The police officer told Deputy District Judge Liam McStay that when the police responded to the call from the friars the defendant had been detained by them. He was searched and on him the police found a pair of black gloves as well as a knife. Inside the parochial house the police also found a rock which they believed had been used to smash the window.
The police then received a call about an earlier attempted burglary at the Spar supermarket. They viewed CCTV footage of the incident and the person on the video matched the description of and clothing of the detained defendant.
“We believe the two incidents are connected”, he said.
Opposing bail the police witness said the defendant has 54 previous criminal convictions, 15 of them for burglaries and he was on licence for a previous offence.
Applying for bail solicitor Seamus Quigley said the defendant denied being in the parochial house to commit a burglary, rather “he was there hiding from some people who were after him”.
Refusing bail the Deputy District Judge said there was strong prima facie evidence against him plus the fact that he had offended for most of his adult life. The defendant was remanded in custody until November 28.
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