A 32-year-old man from Ballymena has been given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, after stealing perfume from a Superdrug store in the town.

Kurtis Mitchell, whose address was given as Drumtara, took the perfume on December 7 last year. Police later searched his home and found diazepam and pregabalin.

Mitchell appeared at Ballymena Magistrates' Court. A defence barrister told the court that Mitchell is seeking to go to England for a year-long rehabilitation programme.

The court heard that Mitchell had a previous criminal record. The suspended sentence was imposed following the theft and the drug offences.