At Belfast Crown Court, where Kyle Charles Donaghy was punished for three offences that date back to 2021, the specifics came to light.

Judge Geoffrey Miller KC gave the 26-year-old from Ormeau Road a two-and-a-half-year sentence with a two-year suspension.

The residents of a house in the city's Ardmore Avenue neighbourhood realised their home had been burglarised early on July 6, 2021, the court heard.

Two TVs, four computers, an Xbox, apparel, a pair of sunglasses, and a guitar were among the stolen items.

The property was also broken into and the keys to a blue Renault Clio were taken. Later that day, the Audi was found in the city's Elgin Street underground parking garage. The Clio's bonnet received significant damage when it was found also.

Two individuals were seen on camera in the vicinity both in the Clio and on foot in the parking lot.

Later, the BBC Crime NI series aired this clip. After seeing the episode and recognising Donaghy from the clip, a relative of Donaghy called the police.

When his property was examined following his arrest in December of that year, several stolen things were found.

Donaghy entered a plea of guilty to three offences: handling stolen items between July 4 and December 30, 2021; aggravated vehicle taking and causing damage between July 4 and July 7, 2021; and driving without insurance on those dates.

Donaghy, who had 79 prior convictions, later claimed he had no memory of his crimes.

Donaghy's “troubled and complex” past, which includes mental health concerns made worse by substance abuse, was considered, according to Judge Miller.

Judge Miller sentenced Donaghy to a five-year driving restriction with a suspended sentence after noting that he had previously served time in jail.