A TEENAGER from Abergele has been spared jail despite breaching the terms of a suspended sentence order issued to him following an offence of robbery.

Tomos Shiels, 19, of Cilfan, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, at Caernarfon Crown Court on January 20.

He was also handed 200 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

But at Caernarfon Crown Court today (September 29), prosecutor Richard Edwards said he breached the order by failing to attend a planned office appointment without reasonable excuse on August 18.

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Mr Edwards said Shiels had “no difficulties” with his unpaid work requirement, which he completed within 10 weeks.

He has completed four days’ rehabilitation activity requirements so far.

Shiels’ difficulties, Mr Edwards suggested, are his “poor attitude towards probation” officers, his “intimidating behaviour”, and his “manic lifestyle”.

But he “does appear to be re-engaging” since he has been provided with a new supervising officer, with whom he has a “better relationship”.

Defending, Amy Edwards said that this was Shiels’ first breach of the order, and asked if it could be marked by the imposition of more rehabilitation activity requirement days.

Presiding over the hearing, Judge Nicola Saffman said that Shiels’ initial robbery was “really nasty”, but refrained from activating his suspended sentence.

Instead, he was handed an additional 30 hours’ unpaid work.

She labelled his completion of the unpaid work requirement “commendable”, telling him: “It’s almost as if you enjoyed doing them”.

“I did enjoy them,” Shiels replied.

Judge Saffman added: “He needs a job – he doesn’t like sitting down and talking about what makes him tick.”