Woman was grabbed ‘kicking and screaming’ down an NI alley and forced into boot of car, court hears

Appearing via video before Craigavon Magistrates Court sitting in Lisburn Court was 30-year-old Jeffrey Christopher Matthew Kelly, from Donard Gardens, Lurgan charged with the kidnap and false imprisonment of a woman on May 10 this year.

The court heard that Kelly, who was appearing via video link from Lurgan Police Station, faces the two charges after a woman, unknown to him, was forcibly put into the boot of a red Audi as she was out for a walk on Sunday morning in Portadown.

Detective Inspector Keating told the District Judge Amanda Henderson he could connect Kelly to the charges.

He said police were objecting to bail and that the defendant had 61 previous convictions.

DI Keating revealed that on Sunday May 10 the injured party was walking along Kensington Park, just off Long Lane in Portadown at around 9am on Sunday morning and, as she passed an alley, a man dragged her ‘kicking and screaming’ to a parked car which had the boot open.

The policeman said the victim said she had been dragged down the alley for around 20 metres to the car which she described as red.

The court heard the woman was forced into the boot but managed to get out.

She dropped her mobile phone and ear connections and was forced into the boot for a second time. She kicked out for the second time and she said ‘her male attacker appeared to give up’.

The officer said a witness in Kensington Park heard a female shouting and saw a red car with a black roof.

The witness came forward after appeals on social media.

DI Keating said he believed a number of women were stalked that morning.

The officer added that Kelly has denied he was the man involved in the incident.

The PSNI officer said police strongly objected to bail due to a ‘strong risk of him reoffending’.

He said that while he had a bail address at Donard Gardens, Lurgan he had lived with his mum in Brookehill Lurgan.

“He has 61 previous convictions, three for serious assaults and two for threats to kill,” said DI Keating.

He added that there was a concern that the victim could be retraumatised. “He poses a serious risk to the public,” said DI Keating.

Defence solicitor Gabriel Ingram asked: “You say that other females felt threatened earlier. Have they made statements?

DI Keating: “Yes, at least one of them.”

Under cross examination by Mr Ingram, the DI said the defendant had given two alibi witnesses but the detective felt that these further strengthened the police case.

Refusing bail, the District Judge said these are “very serious” allegations and “effectively a random enforced snatching of a female from the street.”

She also pointed to the ‘threats and menacing behaviour to other females earlier’.

The judge added that police feel that the can connect him to the case and he has been identified in an ID parade.

The District Judge said there was a “real fear that there’s a risk of reoffending’ and risk to the public ‘given the random and persistent nature of the actions on this morning’.

Kelly was remanded in custody to Maghaberry Prison and the case was adjourned to June 5.

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