A MAN from Holyhead who stole alcohol, chocolate, nail varnish and a mobile phone from a woman’s home in Dyserth has been spared jail.

Daniel Hayes, 35, of Cae Dafydd, Bryngwran, was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (September 5).

He had denied an offence of burglary at his plea and trial preparation hearing, but later admitted the charge on July 28.

Prosecuting, Patrick Gartland told the court that, just after 9pm on September 28, 2021, police received a report from woman that two carrier bags had been left on her front doorstep.

The woman, Carole Pennell, said she recognised the bottles of gin inside the bags as those which she had bought.

Once inside her house, she could hear noise from the ground floor of her home while she was upstairs, before she saw Hayes standing in a doorway.

He left after she shouted at him to get out, making off with the following items:

  • Three Terry’s Chocolate Oranges.
  • Three bottles of Liverpool Gin.
  • Two bottles of Marylebone Gin.
  • One bottle of Bloom Passionfruit and Vanilla Gin.
  • One bottle of Aldi London Dry Gin.
  • One Leighton Denny nail varnish set.
  • One Samsung mobile phone.

These items had a total value of £172, Mr Gartland said.

Hayes was subsequently located and arrested, telling police he had been invited into the house by a man called “Larry”, who told him he could have the gin.

It was also claimed that the stolen items were to be used by Hayes as Christmas presents.

Mr Gartland said Hayes had 11 previous convictions for 27 offences, including for criminal damage in 2016.

Defending Hayes, Siôn ap Mihangel said that he has not re-offended in the near-two-year period since this burglary.

There has been a “change in his approach” since then, Mr ap Mihangel said, not least through re-engaging with his son, for whom he is now the sole carer.

Hayes is also in employment, working as a chef for a company providing catering services at weddings.

Mr ap Mihangel added that his mental health had suffered after he was sent to custody during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he was “bullied” and “assaulted on an almost daily basis”.

With a “far more positive outlook” now, he invited the court to “take a chance” on Hayes by suspending his custodial sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Timothy Petts agreed to do so, given the efforts Hayes has made to “stay out of trouble and address drugs (issues)”.

He also ordered Hayes to complete 200 hours’ unpaid work, 10 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements, and 35 “thinking skills” sessions.

Hayes will pay £172 in compensation to Ms Pennell.

Judge Petts told Hayes that the version of events he gave to police was “fanciful”.

He added: “It doesn’t matter that it was a relatively low-value burglary.

“Although I’m suspending the prison sentence, it hangs over you. If you go back to your old ways, you can expect the prison sentence to be activated.”