David Coleman, 39, has been sentenced to 11 years at Belfast Crown Court for his role in the brutal attack and kidnapping of a man in Ballymena in October 2021.

Coleman had previously pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent and kidnapping.

Four other individuals involved in the ordeal – David Cherry, Glen Sheridan, Mark Bradshaw, and Sean Davies – had already been sentenced in May 2024 for their parts in the incident.

Detective Inspector McCoy described the attack, which took place at a house in Ballymena on 11 October 2021, as having a "shocking" level of violence.

"The defenceless victim was viciously beaten, stabbed in the chest with a knife and sliced on both sides of his face. Throughout the nightmarish attack, he was kicked and continually forced to wipe up the blood. Meanwhile, the defendants laughed," Detective Inspector McCoy stated. The victim was subsequently taken from the house in a car and "discarded in a field near Broughshane," where he was later discovered unconscious.

"This man, somehow, survived," Detective Inspector McCoy added. "His journey, however, has been traumatic and for the first number of weeks he remained in intensive care under sedation. Injuries included a stab wound to his chest, fracture and detachment of the jaw, injuries to his face and mouth, and a fracture to the base of the skull. He has in fact sustained a permanent brain injury."

Detective Inspector McCoy concluded by acknowledging the victim's suffering. "Today, with the support of colleagues in the Public Prosecution Service, David Coleman has been held accountable for his actions. This, however, was a barbaric and depraved attack, which has left lasting scars. My thoughts are with the victim and his family, who have all suffered terribly."