Northern Ireland

Co Antrim man in court accused of stalking woman he allegedly sexually assaulted

A police officer said she believed she could connect the defendant to the charges

Appearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court by videolink from prison was Ricki Lee Darbyshire (38)
The defendant appeared in the dock of Antrim Magistrates Court sitting in Ballymena

A man has appeared in court accused of harassing and stalking a woman he allegedly sexually assaulted.

Appearing in the dock of Antrim Magistrates Court sitting in Ballymena, Gary Minford (38) confirmed he understood the three charges against him.

Minford, from Bush Park in Antrim, faces charges of harassment, stalking and sexual assault of a woman all alleged to have been committed on 26 August this year.

None of the alleged facts giving rise to the charges were opened in court but the particulars of the offences allege that Minford harassed the complainant and “engaged in a course of conduct that amounted to stalking in that your course of conduct caused her to suffer fear, alarm or substantial distress.”

Giving evidence to the court a police officer said she believed she could connect Minford to each of the charges.

District Judge Nigel Broderick adjourned the case to October 15.