A 25-year-old Ballymena man has been sentenced to a suspended jail term after being convicted of taking a vehicle without consent and other driving offences.

Ronan Tierney, of Murob Park, appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday, June 11.

He was convicted of aggravated vehicle taking causing damage, along with charges of driving without insurance and without a licence. The offences took place on May 31 of the previous year.

Tierney, who had a previous criminal record, received a five-month prison sentence suspended for three years. He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined £200.

The court heard that Tierney intends to appeal both the conviction and sentence.