Suspect in Ballymena jewellery store raid barred from town centre

A teenager accused of raiding a Ballymena jewellery store was carrying a bottle of suspected ammonia, a court has heard.

Curtis Dunlop, 18 and from Pinegrove Park in the Co Antrim town, claims he was put under duress by an older man to take part in the alleged theft on Saturday afternoon.

Dunlop is charged with stealing a watch valued at £239 and with possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.

Ballymena Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Belfast, heard that two men targeted Robin Adair Jewellers in the Church Street area on Saturday.

Dunlop allegedly entered carrying a bottle of ammonia and asked to try on a watch.

According to police, he then ran out of the shop with the timepiece, but was apprehended by a member of the public.

Footage has also emerged on social media of a second raider apparently sprinting from the store carrying a tray.

A 31-year-old man arrested as part of the investigation was later released from police custody pending further enquiries.

Opposing Dunlop’s application for bail, a PSNI constable expressed concern about the suspected ammonia.

She confirmed, however, that the liquid was never brandished inside the store.

Defence solicitor Ciaran Shiels insisted the bottle had been placed on the ground, with no attempt to threaten staff - he told the court that Dunlop had provided a full account to police.

“He says he was placed under duress by an older individual... and was given the glass jar containing ammonia shortly before they went into the shop,” the lawyer submitted.

District Judge Mark Hamill described the alleged possession of ammonia as “deeply concerning”.

Granting bail to Dunlop, Judge Hamill ordered: “He’s barred from the town centre of Ballymena.”