A plumber has admitted to police that he stole items from potentially over 20 addresses when he was carrying out repair works, a court has heard.
The 31-year-old was before Ballymena Magistrates’ Court via video link from prison.
Nathanial McAllister admitted taking items including cash and jewellery to “fuel” a cocaine habit.
He currently faces three charges – stealing £1,300 in cash along with a gold necklace and bracelet from a property at Girona Avenue in Portrush on June 22 this year; taking a Garnet engagement ring, gold charm bracelet, bloodstone ring, gold watch, bangle and a house key from an address at Eglinton Street in Portrush between February 19 and March 25 this year; and theft of a blue gemstone ring worth £300 on June 23.
Objecting to bail, a police officer said on June 22, a woman told police she was out when a man came to her house and was let in by her 87-year-old mum.
The woman said the man said he was “working for the Housing Executive and was sent to take an image of a part of a shower that was recently fixed”.
The pensioner had “limited mobility” and remained in the living room when the man was “working in the bathroom” but she could “hear him walking throughout the house”.
The pensioner’s daughter returned to the property around 3.30pm and met the male at the door.
Said the officer: “He has acted nervous around her, talking a lot . She had spoken to him for some time. The male went over several issues relating to his own domestic issues and a debt that was owed. She believed this was strange behaviour”.
Once the male left the woman checked a box under her bed and “approximately £1,300” was missing.
A “gold cross” and a pendant bracelet were also missing.
Police spotted the vehicle the defendant was using. It was at a shop in Portrush and he was arrested.
A handbag was recovered in the vehicle which belonged to another female in Portrush. Her daughters confirmed that on March 25 this year the defendant was in the house “employed in a private capacity to carry out some plumbing work”.
On June 23 a woman said a male called Nathanial had attended her property to fix a broken toilet and shower. Whilst in the living room she had gone to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea and returned to notice a ring worth “approximately £300” was taken from a coffee table.
When interviewed, the defendant admitted the three charges and told police there would be “cocaine” in a box under the seat in the vehicle. No drugs were found but a Clover bracelet and a gold cross were found. £650 cash was also seized.
The defendant told police he had already spent some of the £1,300 on drugs.
The officer said a “gold necklace may have been pawned already”.
Added the officer: “Mr McAllister has admitted that since April that he has committed up to 20 other burglaries of this type not including these three mentioned today.”
The officer said the defendant “couldn’t provide any further details”.
Police are checking with employers to obtain records of the houses he has been in.
The officer said the defendant has a “drug habit” and he was committing the thefts to “fuel” it.
The officer said there were approximately 20 “unknown victims” but the police were conducting enquiries with the “Housing Executive to cross-reference job numbers that he has attended. Victims may be unaware that they have been burgled. The defendant has agreed that he could potentially clarify if provided with addresses and job numbers if he burgled from that house or not”.
When asked if the defendant had any previous convictions, the officer told the court the defendant had “one caution from 2023”.
The officer said there were potentially “a lot of vulnerable victims” and added: “We believe some of these belongings have already been pawned off”.
The officer said the defendant had been doing work “through the Housing Executive fixing showers and stuff like that”.
A defence barrister said the defendant has a “cocaine problem” and is “totally ashamed” of the offending. The incidents were a “serious wake-up call” and the defendant attends ‘Cocaine Anonymous’.
The defendant had worked as a plumber for 15 years, it was said.
The lawyer said a person “took £13,000” from the defendant and along with his drug addiction he was stealing to fund his drug habit and “pay a debt”.
The barrister said McAllister has “owned up to everything” and is supporting the investigation “in terms of trying to right the wrongs that he has done”.
“He clearly needs help,” added the defence who said the case is likely to go to the Crown Court.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said the defendant had made admissions to the three charges before the court and there may be potentially 20 other thefts.
He said the victims are perhaps “vulnerable” by virtue of age or perhaps “living on their own”.
The judge said there had been a “breach of trust” as the defendant had been in homes to do repairs.
Added Judge Broderick: “That trust was abused because he was let by the householder into that person’s home and he used that opportunity to find items of value, be it cash or jewellery”.
He was concerned about further offending because of the drug addiction and said the offences could eventually “easily attract” a jail sentence.
The defendant was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on July 20.
