Musician who told female hospital patient he had healing hands has been granted bail

A musician who told a female hospital patient he had healing hands when he indecently assaulted her by putting his hands on her breasts has been granted bail in what a judge described as “a line ball decision” at Derry Crown Court.

The defendant, Christopher Woods, 59, of Duke Street in the city’s Waterside area, who goes by the name Chris Kip Woods during his appearance, will be sentenced next month for indecently assaulting a female staff member at a cinema in Derry in October. last year and for indecently assaulting a female patient in the emergency department of Altnagelvin Hospital on January 1 this year.

He was taken into custody earlier this month when he breached one of his bail conditions by being found drunk on Craigavon ​​Bridge.

A lawyer for the prosecution opposed the bail application, telling Judge Philip Babington it was Wood’s eighth breach of the court’s bail conditions. He said Woods was unable to stand due to his intoxication when he was found on the upper deck of Craigavon ​​Bridge five days ago.

The prosecutor said Woods, who was intoxicated, approached a female patient in the emergency department during the hospital incident.

“He stood over her, spoke to her and made her feel uncomfortable. She walked into another nearby hallway. He followed her and without warning grabbed her from behind and grabbed her breasts,” the lawyer told judge Babington.

Lawyer Sean Doherty, who made a bail application, acknowledged the crimes were disturbing to the two women and said, without downplaying the incidents he highlighted, they were “at the lower end of the spectrum”.

He said Woods, who was sexually abused as a child, had a complex psychiatric background and was an alcoholic. He said Woods could be released on bail if he is not required to be under the influence in a public case.

Granting bail Judge Babington told Woods, who was in custody at Maghaberry Prison: “Be under no illusions, this is a line-ball decision. I’m giving you this opportunity but you must not be drunk in public “I’m taking a risk with this and if the police find you in a similar condition again, you will go straight to jail.”