A WREXHAM man has been given a chance to address his issues after going "off the rails" and committing a series of motoring crimes.

Tomos Hughes, of Maes Brenin, appeared for sentence at Wrexham Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old had admitted a raft of offences previously, including:

  • Drink driving x2
  • Driving without insurance x 4
  • Driving whilst disqualified x 4
  • Driving whilst unfit through drugs
  • Failing to provide a specimen for analysis

Prosecutor Hannah Williams told the court that in the early hours of July 8 last year, police on patrol in Wrexham spotted a vehicle "braking harshly" at traffic lights - with no headlights or rear lights on.

They stopped the vehicle and found out the driver, Hughes, was banned and had no insurance.

His pupils were small and he appeared "shaky."

A smell of cannabis was also emanating from the car.

Roadside testing gave a positive reading for cannabis and cocaine - for which the defendant was arrested.

But in custody, he said he had a "needle phobia" and that he'd "kick off" if one was used on him.

A urine sample was used instead; with his unfit to drive through drugs charge resulting.

Then, less than a week later, police were called to an incident in Wrexham in which a vehicle had crashed into the railings of a property.

At the scene, they found Hughes standing outside the driver door of the vehicle in question.

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He was "unsteady on his feet" and smelled of intoxicants.

Hughes claimed at the time that he wasn't the driver, but has since confirmed he was.

He was found to be over the alcohol limit.

The next offences happened when, in September last year, officers were carrying out speed checks on the A55 and spotted Hughes driving a vehicle at 60mph in a 50 section.

He was stopped and once again, the vehicle smelled of cannabis.

He admitted having had some earlier that day and was taken into custody after a roadside sample confirmed the presence of cannabis and cocaine.

But he then failed to provide an evidential sample - again citing "needle phobia."

Finally, on December 22, members of the public called police after spotting Hughes "driving recklessly on a grass bank" in Phoenix Road, Brymbo.

When he was stopped and tested, he was found to be over the alcohol limit again.

Euros Jones, defending, told the court: "There have been no further offences since December 22.

The Leader:

"He's certainly under no illusion whatsoever about the sentence that could be passed on him today.

"He simply wants to put this behind him - there are a great deal of matters that need to be addressed with him."

Mr Jones said his client had gone "off the rails" but has since gotten "back on track" thanks to living with his family for some months.

He added that were the court minded to pass a sentence in the community, an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement would be "a must" for his client - and that with other probation measures, this would be "sufficient to make sure he commits no further offences."

The court also heard that while he has previous convictions, these were the first of a motoring nature.

A community order of 18 months was handed down with three requirements.

They are 35 sessions on an accredited programme, 15 days of rehabilitation activity and a 120 day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.

Hughes must pay £85 costs, along with a £114 victim surcharge.

The court banned him from driving for two years.