District Judge Nigel Broderick said he was concerned that Dennis Steele, 46, could interfere with the investigation and might not turn up for hearings.

In an indictment covering a period between February 23 and September 29 this year, Steele, of Cappagh Green in Portstewart, faces a total of 30 offences, including 19 counts of burglary, one of attempted burglary, three counts of criminal damage, one count of attempted burglary, one count of theft. and five drug offences, including possession of cannabis, pregabalin and tramadol and importation of class B cannabis.

Among the burglary charges, most of which were committed in February and March, Steele is alleged to have broken into a number of domestic properties in Coleraine, Macosquin, Portrush, Portstewart and Ballymena, as well as a restaurant, Ballycastle Golf Club, a jewelers on high street Ballyclare.

According to the charges, £86,500 worth of jewelery and £15,000 worth of golf equipment was Tropen in the two incidents.

Appearing at Ballymena Crown Court via videolink from police custody, Steele spoke only to confirm his identity and that he understood the charges against him.

Testifying during a contested bail application, Det. Const. Frawley told the court police investigating the burglaries returned footage from Steele’s own CCTV cameras at his home showing the defendant leaving and returning to the property at times relevant to the burglaries.

Police also recovered at Steele’s home some of the property stolen during the burglary, while on his partner’s cell phone, police found photos of some of the stolen items.

DC Frawley told the court it was also the police case that when Steele was seen leaving his home, he was sometimes in the company of his co-accused Samuel Todd whose DNA was found at the crime scene.

Investigators have also discovered forensic evidence related to the footwear that they believe may link them to Steele.

She revealed a wide range of items were stolen during the burglary and details of the offenses reveal how they included a motorbike, motorbike helmet, power tools, jewellery, cash, food, jerry can, cash and golf equipment.

Todd, aged 39 and of Grange Drive in Ballyclare, is currently in custody facing 24 counts of burglary, theft and criminal damage.

DC Frawley told the court that Steele was initially arrested last March and was on police bail but was re-arrested on Friday on a false identification relating to a further burglary in September.

She said officers tried to arrest him on Thursday, but he “ran away” when he saw them and was apprehended the next day, so police became concerned that if he was released, he would flee.

The detective added that police also have concerns that Steele could interfere with the investigation by removing anything else that was stolen but not yet recovered, further revealing that Steele had previous convictions for similar offences.

Defense barrister Eoghan McKenna said that while Todd and Steele were captured on CCTV together, the pair had been living together for some time so there was a potential innocent explanation.

Pointing out that Steele was on bail, the lawyer said it would take a considerable amount of time for the case to progress and argued he could be released on bail with strict conditions to address police concerns.

But Judge Broderick disagreed and said: I don’t mind granting bail.”

He remanded Steele in custody and adjourned the case to November 18.