14 DAY TRIAL // What can you do with a potato peeler, besides actually peeling potatoes? I bet you never thought of hijacking a car armed with the kitchen utensil, but a 21-year-old student from Strand Road in Derry did.
Derek Creswell appeared before court on Wednesday after being charged with using a potato peeler to hijack a car. He is alleged to have committed the offense at Bonds Hill in the Waterside area of the city on December 23 of last year, but he has appeared at Londonderry Magistrates' Court only this week.
Among the charges brought against him, the Daily Mirror mentions hijacking a car, causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the 76-year-old owner of the vehicle and possessing the potato peeler.
Apparently, the defendant is currently a serving prisoner who has recently been released on parole. He paid his own bail of £500 ($837/€615), a defense solicitor told the court, and as part of his bail conditions, he must continue to reside at his Strand Road address.
Additionally, Creswell has been ordered not to enter the Bonds Hill area and not to contact the owner of the car.
He is set to appear in court again on June 26.