Romanian man accused of ‘looting' house left vacant after Ballymena rioting
The defence team for a Romanian man accused of 'looting' a house which had been left vacant over recent rioting in Ballymena, 'are having considerable difficulties' finding him a bail address, a court heard today.
As Sergiu Varga appeared at Ballymena Magistrates Court by video link from prison, a prosecutor asked fir the case against the 24-year-old to be adjourned for three weeks.
She told Deputy District Judge John Rea the file had been 'allocated to a senior prosecutor,' adding that by the next time the case is before the court, there should be a decision as to how it will proceed.
Varga, of no fixed abode, is charged with burglary of a property on Clonavon Terrace on 19 June where he allegedly stole 'household goods' to the value of £3,000 and with the theft of £13 of food from Braid River Service Station on 9 March this year.
When the defendant first appear in court, a police officer recounted how Varga had walked in to the filling station, concealed various food items under his coat before walking out 'making no attempt to pay.'
Sergiu Varga
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th
On 19 June, she told the court, a resident of a house on Clonavon Terrace reported that her house had been burgled.
'The injured party reported that she had to leave her address on 14 June due to the disturbances in the town,' said the officer, adding that when the victim returned on 19 June, she discovered 'an upstairs window had been smashed…and that all of her valuable belongings had been taken.'
The court heard that having 'made some enquiries in the local community,' Varga was identified as the alleged thief but when the victim spoke to him, he claimed 'he was only keeping them [her belongings] for safe keeping.'
Sergiu Varga
The officer added that as well as the victim not giving anyone permission to enter her home or remove her property, 'while she was trying to locate the defendant she saw a male person wearing a set of headphones that belonged to her.'
The victim spoke to that man and he claimed he had bought the head phones from Varga for £11.
Arrested and interviewed, Varga 'admitted taking the items but said that he found them outside and that he did not enter the property at any stage.'
In court today, Varga's defence counsel said while bail had been granted, that was subject to an approved address, conceding that 'we are having considerable difficulty getting an address.'
Remanding Varga back into custody, Judge Rea adjourned the case to 7 August.
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