A MAN who was caught with a knife in the street after arguing with another person has been spared jail.

Tyler Lewis, of Bodelwyddan Avenue in Kinmel Bay, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Wednesday. 

The 23-year-old had previously been convicted of possessing a bladed or pointed article in a public place.

Dafydd Roberts, prosecuting, told the court that on November 23 last year, police received a report of two males arguing on Wellington Road in Rhyl - and one of them was seen with a knife.

Officers made their way immediately to the scene and found Lewis sitting on a wall outside the Ocean City takeaway.

He did not comply with instructions and started to remove his clothes.

When it became clear that he was no longer in possession of any blade, the police moved in and took him to the ground.

Initially, Lewis resisted and was verbally threatening, but his demeanour changed and he became unresponsive.

The defendant was taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital for assessment.

An officer found the knife near to where the defendant had been sitting on the wall.
It was confirmed to have his DNA on it.

Mr Roberts confirmed the defendant had 16 previous convictions for 37 offences; including possession of a samurai sword, threatening behaviour, assault and other offences.

Siôn ap Mihangel, defending, told the court: "The defendant had admittedly amassed a number of convictions in a relatively short period of time.

"But he had the good sense to plead guilty to this in the lower court.

"I know Your Honour has seen the CCTV and certainly the defendant is not the one gesticulating; he's the one walking backwards.

"The second male is the one seen staggering.

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"But Mr Lewis is the one charged with possession of the blade.

"He has a poor background and has had a poor start in life.

"But he has now gained employment and is also a father."

Judge Timothy Petts handed down a custodial sentence of four months, but suspended it for 18 months.

The defendant must undertake a six month drug rehabilitation requirement, as well as an electronically monitored curfew of the same duration.

He must also participate in a thinking skills programme.