A 20-year-old man has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on charges including strangulation and assaulting police during an alleged domestic incident in Newtownstewart, County Tyrone.

Stephen Mongan, of Lisnafin Park, Strabane, faced Omagh Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He is charged with strangulation and assault on his partner on 21 June, engaging in a course of abusive behaviour towards her from 1 January, and two counts of assaulting police.

Police were called to a property in Newtownstewart at around 9.40 p.m. on Sunday, the court was told. A woman alleged that Mongan punched her, grabbed her by the throat, and covered her mouth during an argument. She fled to a nearby takeaway and asked a member of the public to use their phone, but Mongan followed and told her to stop the call.

After his arrest, it is alleged Mongan lashed out at officers, kicking one in the shin and another in the chin, and attempting to headbutt a third.

A detective opposed bail, citing a risk of interference with the complainant and further offending. The court heard Mongan has more than 20 previous convictions, including 12 for violent offences and 12 breaches of bail conditions, which the detective described as concerning given his age.

Defence solicitor Eugene Burns said Mongan had significant vulnerabilities and complex needs, with a previous assessment indicating a mental age of six. He had also been found unfit to plead on a prior occasion. However, a detective said a medical expert had deemed him fit for police questioning before interview.

District Judge Conor Heaney said that while Mongan is presumed innocent, he was not satisfied bail could be granted due to the risk of interference with the complainant and reoffending. The case was adjourned to Strabane Magistrates Court on 16 July.