The case of a twenty-six-year-old man facing motoring allegations which date back over two years is to transfer to a different court where he faces another set of unrelated charges.
Jody Dowzell (26) from Annaghroe Road, Caledon is accused of taking a Land Rover Freelander without the owner’s consent and causing damage in the manner of his driving.
It is further alleged he drove the vehicle without insurance during the incident which occurred on March 4, 2022 at Annaghannany Road, Killylea.
No details surrounding the circumstances of the alleged incident were disclosed during the short hearing at Armagh Magistrates’ Court and it is unclear why the case took so long to be prosecuted.
A defence barrister advised Dowzell has live matters at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court and suggested all cases should be heard together.
The other charges include an incident on May 20 this year when the defendant allegedly entered the home of a male aged in his nineties with intent to steal and assaulted him causing actual bodily harm.
On the same date he is accused of attempting to hijack a vehicle by threat, force or intimidation and assaulting the female driver causing actual bodily harm.
There was no application for bail and Dowzell has been remanded in custody ever since.
The cases will now be listed together at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court and are next due for mention on October 2, when Dowzell will appear by video-link.
At the time police issued a statement indicating a report had been received at approximately 10:20pm on the evening in question, that a male had approached a female driver in the Main Street area of Caledon and banged on the window of her vehicle.
A detective sergeant said Dowzell: “Asked if he could borrow the vehicle, and when the woman said no, he punched her in the face. He was then said to have begun running around the area, knocking over bins and threatening members of the public.”
It was further reported the suspect entered a house in the Woodview Terrace area of Caledon and asked the elderly male occupant if he had a car.
When the householder said no, the intruder punched him in the face before making off on foot.
The detective continued, “A short time later, police arrested a man aged in his twenties on suspicion of assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, and burglary with intent to steal.”
