David Coleman sentenced over Ballymena knife and hatchet attack

A man has been sentenced to 11 years for a “sustained, brutal attack” on a man who was stabbed in the chest, slashed on the face, hit with a hatchet and dumped in a field in County Antrim.

The victim, who was found by binmen outside Broughshane in October 2021, suffered permanent and life-changing injuries including a brain injury.

David Coleman, 39, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday.

He will serve half of his 11-year term in prison and half on licence.

Four other men involved in the attack were jailed last year.

Police said throughout the “nightmarish attack”, the victim was kicked and continually forced to wipe up his own blood as his attackers laughed.

The court was told the victim was asked to bag cocaine at Coleman’s Ballymena flat before he was accused of stealing customers.

He was repeatedly punched in the face by Coleman who then took a large knife and stabbed him in the chest before putting it in his mouth.

Mr Coleman, who was laughing throughout, slashed the blade across the victim’s face.

He then called someone and asked “where do I get rid of somebody?”

The victim was later bundled into the back of a car by other men and dumped in a field on the Lisnamurrican Road near Broughshane.

It was there that he was assaulted with a hatchet.

During sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said the fracture to the victim’s skull caused by the hatchet was not caused by Coleman but said he “used a knife in a cruel way” and that the victim was subjected to a “sustained, brutal attack”.

A Crown barrister previously told the court Coleman encouraged and directed others involved in the kidnapping.

He also said he had a “long-standing association with paramilitaries”.

At an earlier hearing, Coleman’s barrister said his client had already served more than three years in custody and did not inflict the skull fracture which caused significant and permanent damage.

Coleman was given a nine-year sentence with a further two years added due to him being considered dangerous.

Judge Kerr said Coleman’s record contains violence including links to paramilitary offences and that he is assessed as being a high-risk offender by the Probation Board NI.

“The most significant matter is that he has a history of dealing in drugs and that this incident arose from that,” the judge said.

“His total indifference to his victim shows a mindsight that he does and will pose a significant risk of causing serious harm.”

Police described the attack as “barbaric and depraved” and said “the level of violence inflicted is shocking”.

“The defenceless victim was viciously beaten, stabbed in the chest with a knife and sliced on both sides of his face,” Det Insp McCoy said.

“Throughout the nightmarish attack, he was kicked and continually forced to wipe up the blood. Meanwhile, the defendants laughed.”

He added: “This man, somehow, survived. 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.

“Today, with the support of colleagues in the Public Prosecution Service, David Coleman has been held accountable for his actions.”