A 20-year-old County Antrim man has been sentenced to probation for a series of offences committed during a cannabis-induced psychotic episode.

Joel Moore, of Cypress Place in Carrickfergus, appeared at Belfast Crown Court and pleaded guilty to indecent exposure, attempted hijacking, and two counts of common assault following the incident in May last year.

On the afternoon of 23 May 2024, Moore approached a jogger on the path between Hazelbank and Lough Shore in Newtownabbey. He shouted sectarian insults at the man, who was wearing Linfield clothing, and exposed himself.

Moore then confronted a man and a woman, asking about their religious beliefs, before running onto the Shore Road. There he attempted to pull open the door of a grey Nissan in slow-moving traffic and punched the driver in the ear when he refused to get out.

Police arrested Moore, and he told officers he had acted for his mother. He was taken to Antrim Area Hospital and later sectioned for a period under the Mental Health Order. In a subsequent PSNI interview, he made full admissions and expressed remorse.

The prosecution said the offending occurred during a psychotic episode triggered by cannabis misuse. Defence barrister Stephen Toal KC stated that Moore, who had no previous convictions, was unaware cannabis could cause such a condition and that his behaviour was completely out of character.

Judge Neil Rafferty KC imposed a two-year probation order for the assault and hijacking charges and a 12-month conditional discharge for indecent exposure. The judge noted that Moore had written apology letters to his victims, was now abstinent from drugs, and that the incident was a one-off episode of behaviour.