Suspect in knifepoint carjacking charged

On Thursday, a report was received by police at around 4.30pm that a man aged in his 50s had been approached by a male armed with a knife, shortly after parking his car outside his home in the Trasnagh Drive area of Newtownards.

Police said the keys to the car were handed over and it was then driven off towards the Scrabo Road.

The car was alerted to police patrols and located in Downpatrick a short time later.

The car was recovered and the 24-year-old man detained.

On Friday evening, detectives in Newtownards said they had charged the man with a number of offences.

They including robbery, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, taking a motor vehicle, and without authority, as well as driving whilst disqualified.

He is due at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, August 13.

The PSNI said in a statement: “As is normal procedure the charges are reviewed by the PPS.”