A man has been remanded into custody after appearing in court accused of sexual assault in Derry.
Emmett Deehan appeared before Londonderry Magistrates Court on Tuesday in connection with a physical and sexual attack on a woman who police previously said was pulled into an alleyway and repeatedly hit in the face in the Lecky Road area.
No details of the incident, which happened at around 1.15am on Sunday, were revealed in court.
A police constable told the judge he could connect the 32-year-old, of no fixed abode, to the charges of sexual assault by digital penetration and grievous bodily harm.
The court was told by Mr Deehan’s solicitor that his client denies both charges.
“He has been interviewed over the last couple of days,” Derwin Harvey said.
“The primary evidence in the case is doorbell CCTV footage.
“Mr. Deehan denies being the person on the video responsible for this attack.
“Forensic evidence will be paramount in terms of being persuasive in terms of his guilt or innocence.”
The defendant, who appeared via videolink from Strand Road police station, spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him.
Mr Harvey said “it would be naive for Mr Deehan to apply for bail at an address in the city” and confirmed no application was being made.
District Judge Barney McElholm explained that the accused can apply for bail at any stage if a suitable address becomes available before remanding Mr Deehan into custody.
The defendant is due to appear before the court again via videolink on November 21.
Police previously said the victim, aged in her 50s, sustained “serious facial and other injuries as a result of this terrifying ordeal that she was only able to escape from after her attacker let her go” before she raised the alarm.
“The woman required hospital treatment for her injuries,” they added.