A Narberth man currently serving a community order has been handed a suspended prison sentence for ‘unacceptable behaviour’ after turning up to probation appointments intoxicated.
Thirty-four-year-old Christopher David John O’Connell, of Cox Hill, appeared at Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, after being charged with failing to comply with the requirements of a community order, which he was given back in July, with a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement.
The order was handed to Mr. O’Connell after he admitted a charge of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour which would lead a person to believe that violence would be used.
Magistrates in court on Tuesday heard that the defendant had failed to attend a planned appointment with the probation service on July 19, and failed to provide acceptable evidence for missing the appointment.
He had also displayed unacceptable behaviour when attending an appointment on August 7.
A report from the probation service stated that Mr. O’Connell had twice attended the office in a ‘significantly intoxicated state’ and shown ‘unpredictable and physically uncoordinated behaviour’.
He had also become ‘aggressive’ with female members of an agency staff that were in the same building, and informed that the police would be called if his behaviour continued.
It was explained that Mr. O’Connell had missed required appointments and his compliance with the community order had been ‘problematic’ with no RAR (rehabilitation activity requirement) days completed, with the defendant seemingly placing no importance on the terms of his sentence.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that his client had not turned up the previous day when the hearing had been scheduled for, as he had gotten his days mixed up.
“If Mr. O’Connell’s behaviour had been as bad as the probation report has made out, then the police would have been called. He has been nothing but respectful in my office when he has attended.
“It is essentially two or three appointments that he has not turned up for, but has attended all other appointments. People who aren’t bothered don’t turn up at all.
“Mr. O’Connell has been working and engaging with the Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service (DDAS), and relapsed in July,” continued Mr. Webb who explained that his client had been grieving since his sister was tragically killed in a road traffic accident last year.
Magistrates elected to revoke Mr. O’Connell’s current community order and replaced it with a term of custody of 28 days, suspended.
He was handed a 20 day RAR, and told by magistrates that he must comply with the terms of his sentence, as he had shown no compliance up until now, and would know the consequence would be jail if he didn’t.
The defendant was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs.