A cocaine addict allegedly crashed into two police vehicles in a stolen car during a creeper-style burglary in north Belfast, a court heard today.

Pearce O’Neill is also accused of trying to break into two other homes as part of the same 48-hour crime spree.

The 24-year-old defendant has been remanded in custody on 16 charges relating to incidents over the weekend which left a number of PSNI officers injured.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard O’Neill allegedly took the keys to a Toyota Yaris from a house in Brucevale Park in the early hours of Saturday.

Police chased the stolen car into the city to the Monagh Bypass and Norglen Parade areas before it was stopped.

An investigating detective said: “He was involved in collisions with two separate police vehicles causing injuries to the drivers.”

O’Neill is also accused of targeting two other houses in Brucevale Court on the same night.

The defendant, believed to be from nearby Thorndale Avenue but with a current address at Carlisle Road in Derry, faces charges of theft, aggravated vehicle taking and two counts of attempted burglary.

He is further charged with dangerous driving, interfering with vehicles, failing to comply with a specimen while driving unduly, failing to stop at an accident, handling stolen property and stealing £120 in cash from a vehicle.

Bail was opposed amid claims that O’Neill could interfere with witnesses because he lived close to the crime scene.

Citing the risk to the public, the detective added: “He is believed to have been under the influence of drugs and did not provide evidence when asked.”

Defense barrister Owen Beattie described O’Neill as an extremely vulnerable person who had previously been in a coma following a “catastrophic incident” two years ago.

“This is somebody who has a cocaine addiction, it’s something that he’s up front about and that could be the genesis of a lot of the (alleged) crimes in this case,” the attorney said.

Mr Beattie also claimed CCTV evidence relating to the burglary and theft allegations was “far from conclusive”.

However, refusing bail, District Judge Steven Keown said: “The vulnerability of homeowners and vehicle owners, and indeed police officers trying to respond to difficult situations, is the court’s priority.

“Unfortunately, from my point of view, it’s a hopeless application.”

O’Neill was remanded in custody until December 2.