Belfast man, once an Olympic hopeful, charged with five burglaries

Details emerged as the 29-year-old, of Lepper Street in the city, was refused bail.

McKee is charged with five counts of burglary with intent to steal at commercial premises on the Antrim Road.

He allegedly targeted tanning and nail salons, an aesthetic treatment centre, a dental surgery and a day centre – all on September 27 last year.

McKee faces seven further charges of fraud by false representation relating to the same date.

Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard a card taken from a stolen handbag was used in suspected transactions worth just over £200 in total.

Defence solicitor Ciaran Toner said McKee made admissions during police interviews, and predicted that a custodial sentence was “inevitable”.

Mr Toner disclosed that his client, who once boxed for Ireland, had been earmarked for a future Olympic team from an early age.

“He had a reasonable prospect of making a successful life,” the lawyer submitted.

Those hopes were said to have been blighted by a serious drug problem.

“All the commercial premises where he has gone in and taken items, it was an attempt to resell them for his addiction,” Mr Toner added.

District Judge Amanda Henderson was told McKee wanted to be released from custody to get treatment for which he faces a two-year wait in prison.

But denying bail due to the risk of re-offending, she cited his near-50 previous offences.

Judge Henderson stated: “I can’t think of a record for a man of that age where I have seen that many burglaries.”