A MAN broke glass in his home because he was “hearing voices” and believed the address was “haunted”, Coleraine Court has been told.
Raymond Neal (40), appeared before the court via video link on a bench warrant after failing to turn up at Laganside Court in Belfast.
The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting two police officers on July 4 last year and that case had been adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report but Neal had not complied.
At Coleraine Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena this week, a police officer said they had concerns about the defendant’s well-being and that Neal was “hearing voices in his current address and believes that his address was haunted” which led to him smashing glass.
The officer said Neal’s current landlord was happy to have him back at the property but his family had indicated they would prefer him closer to their address in Newtownabbey.
A defence lawyer said there was a “significant mental health background” to the case.
The defendant, of Barra Street in Antrim, asked for his return to Laganside Court to be postponed to give him time to clean up glass and repay damage to the landlord.
The defendant was released on his own bail of £500 and the case was adjourned to Laganside Court in Belfast on January 21.
