Wrexham man spared jail for having knife in town centre pub

Shaun Jones, of Bryn Hafod in Wrexham, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday for sentence.

The 30-year-old had previously been convicted of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, as well as possessing cannabis.

Myles Wilson, prosecuting, told the court a man was stood at the urinal in the bathroom of the Frisky Pudding Bar on the evening of October 8 last year.

Jones came into the toilets and the man spotted the defendant had blood on his hands.

He asked where it had come from, when Jones reached into a jacket pocket and pulled out a folding knife, which he flicked open.

The complainant was frightened and said he didn't want any trouble.

Jones told him as he backed out of the toilet: "If you tell anyone about the knife, I'll know it was you."

But the complainant decided he would tell someone in case the defendant did anything with the blade.

After it was reported to door staff and the police were called, officers arrived to find Jones "squaring up" with a member of the door staff.

He was "very drunk" and had blood on his shorts.

A knife described as being "smaller than a biro" was recovered and when he was arrested and taken to the police station, officers found a small amount of cannabis in one of his other pockets.

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He claimed he had the knife for fishing, but that he also used it for "protection."

Simon Rogers, defending, said: "The risk factor in this defendant's case is obvious - it's the misuse of alcohol.

"When one delves into his background, one sees this is a man who is not without ability.

"He was a talented footballer in an academy, but he was released at the age of 15 which had a profound impact on him.

"There have been issues with his mental health."

Judge Nicola Saffman told the defendant: "You were in a toilet and there was another male there. He was concerned about you when he saw blood on you; he was obviously a caring person.

"Then you pulled out a knife. Inside the confines of a urinal in a pub where you were clearly intoxicated, this is going to be threatening."

The Frisky Pudding Bar in Wrexham. Image: Google
The Judge said there was a good deal of mitigation in his case, including that he had made efforts to rehabilitate himself in the intervening period - including by stopping his cannabis use.

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Jones received a 12 month custodial sentence, but it was suspended for 12 months.

He must take part in a thinking skills programme, undertake a 120 day alcohol abstinence monitoring order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

"The devil makes work for idle hands," the Judge told him.

"You've been spiralling out of control and it's time to stop this happening."
Jones must pay £420 costs and a £156 surcharge.

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