A 23-year-old woman has been given a one-year conditional discharge after admitting to intimidating a witness at Ballymena Courthouse.

Georgia Wright, of St Patrick's Avenue in Ballymena, was charged with intimidation following an incident at the courthouse on May 15 this year. She appeared for sentencing in the same building last Thursday.

A prosecutor told the court that a police officer was present on May 15 for a contested hearing in which a man was found guilty of assaulting a female. Wright had acted as a witness for the man.

The prosecutor said that after the result, police officers sitting near the court's exit heard Wright say to the female, 'Watch your back.' When interviewed, Wright made a full admission, saying she made the comment because she believed the witness had been lying. She said she did not mean anything by it and spoke out of anger.

A defence barrister said the incident arose from misguided loyalty and that Wright wished to convey sincere remorse.

Deputy District Judge Mark Hamill expressed astonishment that a case of witness intimidation was being dealt with at the Magistrates' Court rather than the Crown Court. He told Wright that she had mouthed off within earshot of two police officers and described her actions as mindbogglingly stupid.

Judge Hamill imposed a one-year conditional discharge, which he called a fool's pardon. He warned Wright that if she re-offended and the current case was re-opened, another judge might consider it an attack on the criminal justice system requiring immediate custody.