An ex-homeless man who had battled a major spice addiction has been jailed for breaching a court order for the 10th time.

Carl Neville Williams, who had been on the streets for 12 years, had broken his criminal behaviour order banning him from going into Wrexham town centre after he'd been told to leave.

He was seen pestering elderly people for change at Wrexham bus station this morning, despite having been told by police to

He said to an officer "Give me a squeeze", and then when asked what he meant he said: "Let me go, I will leave now."

Interviewed, he claimed he was not aware of the order although the prosecutor said that he had been arrested numerous times for breaching it.

He said he had not understood when asked to leave.

Asked why he did not understand, he replied: "Because you are chewing a brick."

 

Prosecutor Rhian Jackson said he had nine previous convictions for breaching the order, which resulted in either imprisonment or suspended sentences.

Defence solicitor Christine Ankers-Phillips said Williams, 46, of Richmond House, Wrexham, last breached the order since September of last year.

"He used to be very heavy into drink and spice. He had a huge spice addiction. He was mixing drink and drugs," she said.

But since his release from prison he had not touched drink and drugs for a couple of months.

"There has been a massive change in him," she said.

"Last time I saw him he was worse for wear. Today, he looks really, really well."

He had been asked to leave the town centre and did do but returned so that he could get a bus to go and see his sister.

Williams knew he should not have done that, she said.

He had been in and out of custody for a long time, but he now had his own bedsit which was stability for him after he had been homeless for 12 years.

"Everything is going the right way for him at the moment," she said.



Probation officer Jonny Belbin said that the defendant had failed to attend two appointments this month as part of his post sentence supervision.

Williams said that he was not aware of the appointments.

The court heard that on release people were directed to attend the probation service as part of their supervision.

The judge agreed to a prosecution request for a new two year criminal behaviour order.

Williams said he was "clean now" and had no objections.


But District Judge Roger Lowe jailed him for eight weeks and ordered him to pay a £115 surcharge.

When sentenced Williams punched the glass in front of the dock, causing a loud noise.

But he was not injured and there was no damage.

The judge said that he had breached his order nine previous times and warned that the sentence could go up to 12 months.

At the time he was on licence after his release from a previous prison sentence but he had failed to co-operate with post sentence supervision.

"I am told that you had not bothered to attend at the probation service on your release from prison a month ago. I have no confidence that you will co-operate," he said.