Woman accused of crime spree
11 July 2008 --
AN 18-year-old woman accused of going on a robbing spree
in south Belfast was remanded in custody yesterday.
Maria Devlin faces eight charges, including stealing cash
from a sandwich shop and raiding a nearby house, during the
alleged attacks earlier this week.
The defendant, from Marchioness Street in the city, is
accused of taking £20 from a Subway branch on Botanic Avenue
on Tuesday.
It was also alleged at Belfast Magistrates Court that she
later assaulted a police officer and another woman.
Further robbery charges involved taking a wallet and mobile
phone valued at £260 from one alleged victim.
The court heard claims that she also targeted another man
and two women, allegedly seizing handbags, a purse and
wallet, cash, an iPod and phones.
A final charge involved a break-in at a house in Fitzroy
Avenue on Wednesday.
It was claimed Ms Devlin entered as a trespasser, armed with
a knife, and stole a computer hard-drive, jewellery, bank
cards, a mobile phone, computer games, £120 in cash and
alcohol.
A detective constable who said he could connect her to the
offences confirmed during cross-examination that the main
evidence against the accused was witness descriptions.
However, he said a knife and a packet of sandwiches had been
taken for forensic tests.
Michael Madden, defending, described his client as a
vulnerable young woman with drink problems.
District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded Ms Devlin in custody
to appear again via video link on August 7.
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