Alleged Handbag Thief Reported Crime To Police

A man who allegedly stole his 85-year-old neighbour's handbag called police to report the crime on her behalf, a court has heard.

James Hogg, 40, is facing charges of burglary and possession of cannabis.

He is accused of stealing a pensioner's handbag containing £100 and personal belongings while on a visit to her Ballyclare home.

He lives nearby on the Doagh Road, the Ballyclare Gazette reported in its coverage of the hearing.

Earlier in the hearing the court heard how the woman noticed her handbag was missing after Hogg visited her on Monday, August 6.

Conor O'Kane, prosecuting, said: "The defendant came back 15 minutes later and she informed him that it had been stolen. He actually phoned the police on her behalf."

Officers called to the scene found no sign of a break-in, but searches of Hogg's home uncovered a small quantity of drugs and the missing handbags.

Hogg, after being arrested, claimed to have found it at the bottom of his garden, but had said nothing because he feared no one would believe him.

His defence barrister, Denis Boyd, said: "When police found the cannabis he said he was frightened to tell them about the handbag because they would assume he had stolen it."

Hogg has been granted bail to an address in Larne and was forbidden to contact the woman or enter Ballyclare.

He is also banned from using alcohol or non-prescription drugs.

(NE/GK)