A 36-year-old man from Derry has been remanded in custody after being charged with assaulting a four-year-old child.

Christopher Villa of Ballyarnett Village in the Greater Shantallow area appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. He is accused of assaulting the child on June 16. On the same date, he also faces charges of criminal damage to a concrete block and disorderly behaviour in Carnhill.

Villa is further charged with stealing a number of bottles of beer on June 4, along with a separate disorderly behaviour charge alleged to have occurred on the same day.

A police officer linked him to the charges at Bishop Street Courthouse. Defence counsel Stephen Chapman told the court there would be no bail application.

Villa was remanded in custody and is due to appear again before Derry Magistrates’ Court on July 2.