Suspended jail term for resident who 'snapped' over noise of 'loud exhausts and spinning tyres' coming from car park beside his Ballymena home
A suspended jail term has been handed down to a resident who "snapped" over noise of 'loud exhausts and spinning tyres' at a car park outside his home.
The 61-year-old pleaded guilty to having a knife and hatchet as offensive weapons in public; a charge of 'assault' against a car owner; and causing criminal damage to a car.
Charges of threatening to kill the motorist and attempting to damage another vehicle were withdrawn by prosecutors.
The charges relate to around 8pm on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, heard.
A defence solicitor told an earlier court: "Unfortunately that car park is a gathering place for younger men who modify their motorcars by putting on exhaust systems that make bangs" and are "extremely loud".
He said the defendant, Philip Esler, of Castle Street Mews, Ballymena, "simply got fed up" and” went out to try and remonstrate".
The earlier court heard when interviewed, the defendant told police he was listening to music at home but could hear "loud exhausts and spinning of tyres and he had enough and snapped as this had been an ongoing issue for several years".
A motorist said around 8pm he was in his car at Castle Street car park. He saw a male approach and said he had "seen this male around Ballymena a number of times and he usually seems drunk and agitated".
The man said he put the driver side window down and after asking the defendant how he was the defendant pointed a knife in his direction and said: "I'm going to stab you, I'm going to stab you."
The man said Esler looked to be very angry. He believed the defendant was "off his head on drugs or drink so I genuinely believed he would stab me". The motorist locked the doors, put the window up and phoned 999.
He said Esler had gone around the car and "stabbed at it". The front right tyre was slashed and a rear bumper was also damaged.
The man said the defendant went towards another car, spoke with the driver and attempted to stab the tyres of that vehicle.
The man said a number of people surrounded Esler who ended up "on the floor" and the "knife had been taken off him".
A defence barrister said there was no suggestion Esler tried to stab the man but instead he had wanted to "scare" people.
He said there was a "persistent problem with young people driving vehicles in the car park engaging in donuts and anti-social behaviour with motor vehicles and he says he simply snapped".
The defendant told the earlier court he had a "wee bit of drink in me" and said some neighbours had complained before about noise.
He had taken a "kitchen knife" and "I just took a notion, I will go down and have a word with these couple of boys and scare them. I went about it completely the wrong way."
At Tuesday's Court, a defence barrister said the defendant, who had a record, wished to apologise.
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it would have been a frightening experience for the motorist.
The judge said "not without hesitation" he would suspend a five-month prison term for three years. Esler was ordered to pay £375 compensation towards damage caused.