TWO Co Antrim men who beat another man with a brick following a car chase in Carrickfergus were told yesterday that they will be sentenced for the attack later this month.
Kenneth Graffin and Samuel David McMaw both admitted attacking the other man occasioning him actual bodily harm in September 2016, while Graffin pleaded guilty to an additional offence of dangerous driving.
Belfast Crown Court heard the violent incident occurred at a time when they was "ill feeling" between those involved.
The court also heard that despite being attacked with a brick, the injuries caused to the attacked man were relatively minor.
Outlining the Crown case against Graffin (34) from Oakwood Road in Carrick, and co-accused 29-year old co-accused McMaw, from Starbog Road in Larne, prosecuting barrister Sam Magee said the incident occurred on the evening of September 6, 2016.
At around 10.20pm, the injured party was in the Joymount area of Carrick with two friends when he saw a man he knew who acknowledged him. This same man then drive past the three friends and was verbally abusive.
As the injured party then made his way along the Larne Road, he noticed a black Vauxhall with Graffin behind the wheel and McMaw one of two passengers on board. Graffin stopped and parked the vehicle in the car park of a shopping complex.
Mr Magee said Graffin then drove at speed towards the injured party, who at this stage got on his mountain bike and began cycling towards the police station.
During the chase, Graffin drove the car towards him. The injured party managed to avoid being hit but when he then got off the bike he was struck by the car and knocked off his feet.
At this point, he was able to get to his feet and jump over a fence, but he was caught by McMaw.
The court heard that while a man not before the court assaulted the injured party, Graffin "suggested using a brick to strike him ... they did, and he was struck repeatedly." McMaw then took the man's keys before leaving.
The injured man's two friends returned to the scene, and called an ambulance. Mr Magee revealed the man's injuries were not serious but he was left with bruising.
The pair initially denied any involvement in the attack when first arrested but subsequently admitted assaulting the other man, while Graffin admitted driving dangerously.
Concluding the Crown's case the prosecutor said the incident was set against a "backdrop of ill feeling."
Defence barrister Paul Bacon, representing Graffin, said his client and the injured party knew each other and there were "problems between them all."
Denis Boyd, the barrister representing McMaw, said his client has expressed remorse for his involvement, and said there was never an intention to cause serious injury.
Judge Patricia Smyth granted continuing bail to the pair and said they would be sentenced on September 17.
