A man who was with a group involved in an acid attack in east Belfast has avoided being sent to jail.
Pawel Lesnieswki (41) was handed a three-month sentence, which was suspended for 18 months, by Judge Mark Reel.
Lesnieswki, from Cherrymount in Newtownabbey, admitted a charge of unlawful assembly.
The charge arose from an incident in the Sunbury Avenue area of Belfast on August 5 2023.
Lesnieswki was one of five men - all of whom were Polish nationals - who embarked on car chase.
The driver of the pursued car was also a Polish national, and after an object was thrown at his car, he exited his vehicle.
At this point the five men in the second vehicle also exited their vehicle, their victim was subjected to a karate-style kick and he also had acid thrown at him.
Belfast Crown Court heard that Lesnieswki’s involvement amounted to getting out of the car with the other four men and ‘hanging back’ when the victim was kicked and had acid thrown at him.
The other four men involved in the incident were never apprehended and are, effectively, at large.
Judge Reel said that after watching a video of the incident, it was clear Lesnieswki was part of a “threatening crowd” who exited their vehicle in a residential area but accepted he did not approach the victim and that his role was limited.
Lesnieswki had the suspended sentence imposed and was warned of the consequences of re-offending over the next 18 months.
The judge added: “What subsequently transpired with the injured party was a horrendous offence and if the individual involved in throwing the acid was in front of this court, there would be a very, very different penalty imposed upon that person.”