A MAN ACCUSED of stalking a social media influencer allegedly “followed” her from a Dublin street into a hotel lift and then to her room while holding a belt and staring at her, a court has heard.

Denis Morris, 23, appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court today for a ruling on his trial venue.

Morris of Braemore Road, Churchtown, Dublin 14, faces a charge under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act for stalking the woman at a Dublin 2 hotel on 21 March.

The woman cannot be named for legal reasons.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed summary disposal at the District Court level, where the offence is punishable by a maximum 12-month sentence, instead of in the Circuit Court, which can consider a sentence of up to 10 years.

Court Sergeant Niall Murphy outlined the prosecution’s facts on behalf of the investigating detective.

The sergeant told the judge that the accused was alleged to have followed the injured party, a 25-year-old woman, along the street into her hotel on Harcourt Street, into the lift.

“She noticed he was holding his belt in his hand and staring at her,” he stated.

The accused is not known to her.

The sergeant added: “She alighted from the lift to get away from him to go to her room. He was walking along the corridor towards the room with her.”

On hearing the evidence, the judge agreed with the DPP and accepted jurisdiction for the case to remain in the District Court.

Defence counsel Fiona Pekaar told the court she was still waiting for disclosure of the injured party’s statement.

Morris, who remained silent during the proceedings, was remanded on continuing bail to appear again on 20 October to enter a plea.

The complainant has not been required to testify so far.

At his first court appearance, in July, Detective Garda Eamon Leen, based at the Kevin Street Divisional Protective Service Unit, said the accused made no reply to the charge, and there was no objection to bail.

However, the detective sought a no-contact condition, which was inserted in the bail bond and remains in force.