A 14 year-old's appeared in court in County Antrim charged with trying to buy a sub-machine gun on the dark web.

The boy was surrounded by three police officers and his father at Ballymena Magistrates' Court.

Dressed in a grey hoodie and red T-shirt the child listened on as a detective outlined the accusations against him.

The officer said he was arrested on Thursday and that he allegedly handed over money for ammunition to an operative, believing he could then go on to buy a gun.

It's claimed he wanted to intimidate someone.

He's been released on bail and will appear at another hearing later this month.