Man's home in Ballymena was burned by 'sinister elements', court is told

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A man whose address was burned by "sinister elements" claimed a CS gas cannister and bullets had been left at his home to intimidate him.

Police later found the CS spray during a search and John Wilson Rainey (53), formerly of Orkney Drive in Ballymena, has admitted a charge of possessing a prohibited weapon.

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Antrim Magistrates' Court, sitting in Ballymena, was told that at 2am on January 21 this year a search was carried out and the CS spray cannister was found under the kitchen sink.

Rainey admitted possession but told police he didn't know what the item was.

Ballymena courthouse. Picture: PacemakerBallymena courthouse. Picture: Pacemaker
Ballymena courthouse. Picture: Pacemaker

A defence barrister said the defendant was a heroin addict and is being assisted by the Railway Street project.

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The barrister said there had been "some form of attack" on Rainey's home at Orkney Drive when two empty shotgun cartridges and the CS cannister were left at his home which and he "took that as a threat".

The lawyer said the cartridges were disposed off but the defendant kept the spray.

The barrister said there has "clearly been some ongoing issue with Mr Rainey because he was living in an address in the local area and it appears that was subjected to some form of attack. The building was destroyed.

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"Mr Rainey has had to move from that area and he has been informed by the PSNI they are off the opinion it was carried out by sinister elements within the community".

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The canister was left at the property as a threat and "it appears that threat has been followed through because those premises have subsequently been burnt to the stage that no one can reside in them," said the defence lawyer.

The defendant was in breach of a suspended sentence for possession of a "blade," the lawyer added.

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District Judge Nigel Broderick told the defendant he had "some doubts" about the explanation as to how he came to be in possession of the CS spray.

He told Rainey, who had 64 previous convictions: "It is never a good idea to arm yourself with a weapon in order to protect yourself because it is illegal and it is counterintuitive because that weapon could be used against you.

"If you arm yourself with a weapon in future the court will have no hesitation in sending you to prison," said the judge who handed down a five months jail term, suspended for three years.