Belfast man '˜used meat cleaver in robbery spree'

Wayne Cameron is alleged to have broken into houses and raided shops in a crime spree across Belfast and Newtownabbey last week.

The 27-year-old, of York Road in the city, is accused of stealing cash, games systems and quantities of tobacco.

He was refused bail at Belfast Magistrates’ Court due to the risk of reoffending.

He appeared in the dock to face nine charges, including three counts of robbery, aggravated burglary and a further burglary.

The alleged offences also involve four counts of possessing an offensive weapon with intent – three of them a meat cleaver and the other a pair of scissors.

Cameron is accused of breaking into address at Surrey Street and Landseer Street in Belfast, taking Xbox consoles and games from the latter property.

According to the charges he also stole an unknown quantity of cash from a filling station in Newtownabbey, and robbed a Subway branch in Belfast of £85.

One of the other counts involved taking £153 in cash, 20 packets of cigarettes and tea bags from a Co-op in Newtownabbey.

The alleged offences were committed on January 27-28.

Cameron mounted a bid to be released on bail during the hearing.

But denying the application, District Judge Fiona Bagnall remanded him in custody to appear again by video-link later this month.