A MAN who punched another outside a Wrexham pub - and breached a suspended sentence in the process - has avoided a stint in jail.

Mark Wood, 35, of Fairfield, Brymbo, appeared before Mold Crown Court for sentencing on Friday, March 31.

He had previously pleaded guilty to a public order offence involving using threatening/abusive words and also of possession of a controlled class A drug at a hearing at Wrexham Magistrates Court on March 2.

Rosemary Proctor, prosecuting, told the court that the offences took place outside the Parish bar based on Town Hill in Wrexham at around 11pm on December 15, 2022.

At the time of the incident, Wood was already the subject of an 18-month suspended sentence that had been imposed on him in July 2022, and related to violence against an ex-partner.

The incident in question saw Wood breach that suspended sentence order by striking his victim with a 'single punch' outside the Parish bar, the court heard.

It left the other man, who was said to be 'very intoxicated', lying on the pavement and with 'swelling above the eye'.

The incident was caught on CCTV, which was shown in court.

It showed Wood, dressed in a blue top, becoming 'engaged in a struggle' before striking the other man.

Wood and a group of other men attempted to get the victim back on his feet before doormen arrived outside.

The defendant was then shown on CCTV leaving the scene. He was later found by police in a taxi office and the blue shirt he was wearing had been 'ditched', the court heard.

When searched by police officers, Wood was found to be in possession of two 'small' bags of cocaine - but there was no evidence that he was under the influence of the drug on the night in question.

Philip Tully, defending, said Wood claims he was 'involved in argument' with the man outside the Parish, adding that he had been 'threatened' and 'abused' by him.

Mr Tully argued that these offences were 'quite different' to those in the initial suspended sentence which Wood was now in breach of.

He added that the matters would like have been dealt with in the lower courts had it not been for the suspended sentence.

Mr Tully said Wood had completed all hours of unpaid work relating to that order and was 'extremely annoyed with himself' following the incident outside the Parish.

READ MORE: 

The court also heard that he was in full-time employment and 'held in high regard' at work.

Sentencing Wood, Recorder Neil Owen-Casey said: "You are somebody who resorts to violence. It seems to me that your use of alcohol and/or drugs is the root of your problem."

For the breach of his suspended sentence, Wood was placed on an alcohol monitoring tag for a period of six months, as part of an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.

He was also handed 30 hours of unpaid work for the breach, as well as another 80 hours of unpaid work for the public order offence.

He received a £700 fine for being in possession of cocaine, which has been forfeited and destroyed and was also ordered to pay £200 in prosecution costs.

Recorder Owen-Casey concluded: "Please take this as an opportunity, this really is your last chance."