A DEESIDE man has been been fined after breaching his suspended sentence. 

The Leader reported the sentencing of Andrew Williams-Barnes of The Brambles, Shotton, in November last year. 

He initially pleaded not guilty to one count of controlling/coercive behaviour and two counts of criminal damage at a Plea and Trial Preparation Hearing on June 22, 2022.

However, he later pleaded guilty to controlling/coercive behaviour on September 14 of this year, four days before a trial was set to take place, with the criminal damage counts being left to lie on the file.

Williams-Barnes was sentenced to 22 months in jail, suspended for a period of two years. He also had to complete 35 'Building Better Relationships' sessions, as well as 10 days of a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement programme.

The 32-year-old appeared at Mold Crown Court on Tuesday (November 26) having breached the order by missing a building better relationships session without authorisation. 

MOST READ:

Defending, Gareth Bellis, said that Williams-Barnes had completed all the unpaid work and was currently in full time work. He added that Williams-Barnes had attended the last three building better relationship sessions and would be attending the next one later this week. 

It was Williams-Barnes first breach of the order and Judge Nicola Jones told the defendant he was doing "really well" on the order, but stressed the importance of the the building better relationships sessions and warned that continuing to miss them would see him end up in prison. 

Williams-Barnes was fined £200 and has to pay £140 costs, totalling £340 which was to be paid within 56 days. If the sum isn't paid, Judge Jones confirmed the defendant would be sentenced to five days in prison.