Court: Wrexham man fined for breaching closure order

Steven Davies, of Pentre Gwyn, appeared at Wrexham Magistrates Court on afternoon.

The 51-year-old admitted that on March 20, he entered an address in Bryn Offa, Wrexham, in contravention of a closure order.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told the court that at around 11pm, police attended the address in question in order to check compliance with recent issues over the closure order.

RECOMMENDED READING

• Flintshire man strangled ex twice after argument at her home
• Jail for Leeswood man who strangled and headbutted woman
• Banning order for Wrexham AFC fan who used racial slur

The order itself was made by Wrexham magistrates Court just less than two weeks earlier - and permitted only the resident, Wrexham Council support workers and maintenance workers instructed by the landlord to attend.

But when officers arrived, they found Davies sitting on the sofa - despite a notice about the closure on the front door being perfectly legible.

He was subsequently arrested.

Mr Espie said the offence put him in breach of a conditional discharge.

Lorraine McClure, defending, told the court her client was friends with the resident, and was invited over to the property.

"His friend told him to come round," she explained, "and regarding the notice on the door - he said he struggles with reading and writing and didn't read it.

"He said his friend let him in and he knows that's not an excuse.

"He did not remember having a conditional discharge and to his credit he has been out of trouble for some time.

"In his mind he was doing pretty well, but he understands this is a breach of his conditional discharge.

"He is almost at the end of that conditional discharge."

The court handed down a £40 for the breach of the conditional discharge, and a further fine of £120 for entering the premises in contravention of the closure order.

Davies must also pay £85 costs and a £64 victim surcharge.