‘deranged | 

Alleged drug dealer appears in court accused of holding sex worker hostage

The woman only escaped from the house in the greater Belfast area when her suspected captor fell asleep

Yesterday at 10:30

Alleged drug dealer Thomas ‘Morgie’ Morgan has been in court accused of holding a sex worker hostage.

In what was described as a deranged incident, he is accused of kidnapping a sex worker, threatening to kill her and telling her the only way she was leaving the house was if she shot him.

The 47-year-old — facing charges in relation to drugs possession, kidnapping, threats to kill and possessing a firearm — appeared in Belfast High Court for a bail application.

The woman only escaped from the house in the greater Belfast area when her suspected captor fell asleep during an ordeal lasting up to three days, a judge was told.

Morgan, of Walnut Green in Larne, Co Antrim, faces charges of possessing a firearm, false imprisonment, common assault, paying for sexual services, possessing cocaine, threats to kill theft, and having offensive weapons with intent.

The alleged offences were committed in December last year.

A Crown lawyer said the woman used WhatsApp to arrange a five-hour meeting for a £1,000 fee.

She claimed when she arrived at the property her customer showed some cash and promised to make payment soon. Later, a request to leave the house was refused.

At one stage the customer allegedly stated: “You are going to die in this house with me.”

Counsel said that when the woman tried to get up from a sofa she was headbutted back down and then threatened with a knife, hammer and broken bottle.

The man produced a firearm and asked if she would shoot him in the head, according to her account. “He said she could only leave if she shot him,” the prosecutor added.

Adjourning the application, Lord Justice McCloskey requested further medical reports before making a decision.