Coleraine man is accused of assault on his own grandmother
A Coleraine man appeared in court today accused of assaulting his grandmother.
Appearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court by video link from police custody, 23-year-old Ben Chauhan told the clerk “no, not really to be honest with you,” when asked if he understood the charge.
Chauhan, from Tullan’s Park in Coleraine, was charged with common assault of his grandmother on 13 July this year.
Defence solicitor Pearce MacDermott told District Judge Natasha Fitzsimmons, the defendant “understands the charge but not why he has been charged.”
“There is no compliant from the grandmother,” he told the judge.
The lawyer also confirmed that as a result of the alleged assault, Chauhan’s bail address has been revoked, adding that “there is a way forward but the difficulty is the address.”
Giving evidence to the court, a police officer said she believed she could connect Chauhan to the offence.
She conceded that there had been no formal statement, but she added that “there is a body worn account” from the complainant.
That will be reviewed by the PPS, said the officer, further conceding that the case “may not make it through court ultimately.”
Although Judge Fitzsimmons granted bail in the sum of £300 and adjourned the case to 11 August, she told Chauhan he would not be released until the had an approved bail address.