A North Antrim man who was “preyed upon” by his neighbour to import a pistol from America walked free from court on Thursday with a suspended jail sentence.
Although Brian Hanna was handed an 18 month prison sentence at Antrim Crown Court, Judge Richard Greene KC said while the custody threshold had been past it was clear the 31-year-old was “vulnerable” and that his neighbour had “preyed upon him” which made the case exceptional and allowed him to suspend the sentence for 18 months.
Hanna, who suffers from cerebral palsy and is from Cafe Lane in Ballymoney, had earlier admitted attempting to possess a SIG P20 pistol, two 9mm magazines and 52 rounds of ammunition on 13 October 2020 and attempting to possess class C etizolam on the same date.
