A MAN from Rhyl has been given “another chance” despite breaching the terms of his suspended sentence order.

Mark Hatswell, 38, of Ernest Street, received the sentence on December 21, 2022 following offences of making threats to kill, sending an offensive message, and causing criminal damage.

The terms of the sentence included completion of a “building better relationships” programme, 12 months’ drug rehabilitation, and 25 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

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But Mold Crown Court heart today (April 20) that, on February 22, Hatswell failed to attend a planned drug rehabilitation review.

He had tested positive for cocaine on seven out of his eight previous appointments, and there was said to be “serious concerns that he was relapsing back into cocaine”.

Since March 7, five further tests have been carried out, in which Hatswell tested positive for cocaine twice.

But his latest tests showed positive results for only cannabis, and he was said to have been “engaging well in all appointments with his drug rehabilitation worker”.

Hatswell, a fitness instructor in Rhyl, had not previously breached the order, so the court was invited to allow the sentence to remain suspended, as well as imposing a financial penalty.

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Presiding over the case, Judge Niclas Parry ruled the order to continue, but issued a £150 fine to Hatswell.

He will also pay £140 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Judge Parry said: “I don’t expect somebody to switch off from coke today when they were on it yesterday, but we do expect improvement.

“There has been recent improvement, and your compliance otherwise has been courteous and polite. I’m going to give you another chance.

“Suddenly the signs are better – get off it.

“How you can be a fitness instructor when you’re ‘coked up’, I don’t know, but I’m glad to hear there has been some improvement.”