Bishop Street courthouse in Derry
Stewart McAllister, 29, formerly of Pelham Road, Derry, is also charged with having an offensive weapon, possessing cocaine with intent to supply and driving offences on September 4, 2016.
He is further accused of assaulting a police officer two days later.
The court heard McAllister has no current address and not money.
He was arrested in the USA in April this year and was flown back to London escorted by US Marshalls before he was arrested at Heathrow Airport by the PSNI extradition cops.
The defendant absconded to the USA after being High Court bail seven years ago.
McAllister was remanded in custody to Maghaberry prison until Thursday, August 29.
During a High Court bail application in January 2017, it was claimed McAllister was the suspected getaway driver was on cocaine when he crashed after a fish and chip shop robbery in Derry’s Waterside, the High Court heard on Friday.
He claimed he was unaware two men with him in the car had allegedly just carried out a £1,000 raid on the fast food outlet.
His two co-accused allegedly entered the chip shop on Spencer Road in September 2016, striking the counter with an iron bar in an attempt to intimidate staff.
They snatched the cash register, containing up to £1,000, before fleeing to a car waiting outside, the court heard.
Prosecution counsel claimed it took off at speed before colliding with another vehicle.
Police discovered the getaway car abandoned, with false number plates fitted and a quantity of cocaine inside.
McAllister later attended a PSNI station in the city, where he was said to have accepted owning the car.
“He claimed to be driving around on the day in question, taking cocaine and acting under its influence,” the prosecutor said.
McAllister went on to say he picked up two men and waited for them outside the shop, unaware of any robbery plans.
Mr Justice Deeny was told he also spat at a police officer during interviews.
Defence counsel David Heraghty accepted his client has a history of “erratic behaviour and drug taking”.
But the barrister insisted: “He’s alleged to be the driver, he had no knowledge whatsoever of the robbery.”
The court was also told McAllister has mental health issues linked to past family tragedies.
He was also left with a fractured skull after being subjected to a serious attack by men in Derry in 2015, according to his lawyer.
Tags: