Subs.(1) rep. by 1970 c.2 (NI)
(2 )F1Subject to subsection (7), a person shall be guilty of an offence if, without having the consent of the owner or other lawful authority, he takes any conveyance for his own or another's use or, knowing that any conveyance has been taken without such authority, drives it or allows himself to be carried in or on it.
(3)A person guilty of an offence under subsection (2) shall—
(a)on conviction on indictment, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years;
(b)on summary conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding[F2 level 3 on the standard scale], or to both.
(4)On the trial of any indictment for the theft of a conveyance, the jury may acquit the defendant of theft and find him guilty of an offence under subsection (2).
(5)A court of summary jurisdiction dealing summarily with the offence of theft of a conveyance may acquit the defendant of theft and find him guilty of an offence under subsection (2).
Subs. (6) rep. by 1989 NI 12
(7)A person does not commit an offence under subsection (2) by anything done in the belief that he has lawful authority to do it or that he would have the owner's consent if the owner knew of his doing it and the circumstances of it.
(8)For purposes of this section—
(a)“conveyance” means any conveyance (other than a motor vehicle, trailer or pedal cycle) constructed or adapted, whether or not as its primary purpose, for the carriage of a person or persons, whether by land, water or air, except that it does not include a conveyance constructed or adapted for use only under the control of a person not carried in or on it, and “drive” shall be construed accordingly;
(b)“motor vehicle” and “trailer” have the same meanings as in the Road Traffic [F3 (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 [1981 NI 1] ]; and
(c)“owner”, in relation to a conveyance which is the subject of a hiring agreement or hire purchase agreement, means the person in possession of the conveyance under that agreement.