A former soldier who previously admitted possessing images of child abuse has walked free from court after threatening a journalist.

Philip Francis McLernon was handed a suspended two-month prison sentence after posting a social media message saying the next time the journalist gets in a taxi “maybe the story could have a different outcome”.

The victim, a reporter who was not named during proceedings at Antrim Crown Court, believed the post was aimed directly at them and found it to be “unsettling and menacing in nature”.

According to the Belfast Telegraph, McLernon admitted sending a message or other matter of a menacing character on 23 March last year.

Antrim Crown Court

Just over two years ago, the now 54-year-old ex-corporal was handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

In that case, McLernon, of Meadow Lands, Antrim, admitted making indecent images of children and possessing indecent images of children on dates between December 23, 2010, and October 2, 2015.

The latest hearing was told McLernon had breached that suspended sentence by committing further crimes.

However McLernon avoided jail once again after Judge Alistair Devlin agreed to extend the suspension period for the child images offences.

Judge Devlin said the six-month prison sentence would now be hanging over the defendant until 2028.

He said if he breached the terms of the sentence again, he could find himself in prison.