Northern Ireland

Man accused of two burglaries on same house armed with knife

Samuel Robinson (35) appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court
Samuel Robinson (35) appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court Samuel Robinson (35) appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court

A man allegedly carried out two separate burglaries on the same house while armed with a knife, a court has heard.

Samuel Robinson is also accused of sexual assault, blackmail and attempted robbery offences linked to the suspected raids in north Belfast.

The 35-year-old was arrested by police investigating an alleged break-in at the Sunningdale Park address on Wednesday.

He appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with aggravated burglary on that date, stealing an iPhone and having a knife at the time.

Robinson, of Ballysillan Drive in the city, faces two further counts of attempting to rob people at the house of £500 in cash and being in possession of a Class C drug, namely diazepam.

Charges were also put to him in connection with a previous incident at the same property earlier this summer.

He is accused of committing an aggravated burglary on July 23, stealing £200 and again being armed with a knife.

It was alleged that he also sexually assaulted one woman and demanded £1,000 from another "with menaces".

During the hearing a defence solicitor confirmed his client was not seeking bail at this stage.

District Judge Peter Magill remanded Robinson in custody, to appear again by video-link next month.