Man 'fortunate to have liberty': Court

North Antrim Magistrates Court in Coleraine was told on Friday the firearm was spotted lying on the back seat of a car outside a shop on March 9, 2008.

Sean Patrick Joseph Kelly (21), of Taughey Road, was given the "maximum" suspended sentence period after his barrister admitted District Judge Richard Wilson would be stretching his generosity by keeping him out of prison.

Earlier in 2008, on January 7, Kelly attempted to steal aluminium from the old Tesco store at Meetinghouse Street in Ballymoney before making off on a tractor.

Kelly was driving whilst disqualified, without insurance and failed to produce a registration book to police and the vehicle did not carry a vehicle identification number in a clearly visible position.

In June 2008 Kelly admitted dishonestly receiving a stolen flatbed trailer and told police he bought it from an unknown person for 60 and, being suspicious of the price, thought it may have been stolen.

On September 24, 2009, he assaulted two police officers and resisted them. Police had gone to an address in Coleraine to speak to Kelly about a money warrant and he was aggressive and attempted to headbutt an officer.

A defence barrister said Kelly, an agricultural labourer, had significant amounts of money outstanding in relation to court matters which, between fines and restitution, was over 7,000 but that he was paying money each month and it was now down to 4,680.

The barrister accepted Kelly has a significant criminal record with a catalogue of offences and the latest matters will "add another couple of pages".

He said the defendant has "behaved well" over the last couple of years and has repaid almost a third of what he owes to the courts.

The barrister said Kelly accepts he has breached two suspended sentences and the lawyer asked for the sentences to be re-suspended saying he is in full-time employment, is married and has been repaying the money he owed.

He said Kelly is a "hard working young man who seems to have matured over the last two years".

The barrister understood it perhaps would be on the borders of Mr Wilson's generosity not to jail his client.

On the various offences, Mr Wilson imposed a prison term and suspended it for the maximum three years and banned Kelly from driving for a year.

He was also fined a total of 400, including 100 on the firearms certificate offence.

Mr Wilson told Kelly: "You are fortunate to have your liberty".