A TEENAGER from Rhyl has been jailed after he “quite inexplicably” failed to abide by the terms of the suspended sentence he was given.

Connor Lees, 19, of The Crescent, was sentenced to two years’ detention, suspended for the same time period, on June 19 after admitting possession of heroin with intent to supply.

But half of Lees’ suspended sentence was activated at Mold Crown Court today (October 22), meaning he will serve one year’s detention, after completing only four of the 100 hours of unpaid work he was ordered to do.

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Prosecutor Michael Whitty told the court that Lees had missed unpaid work appointments without reasonable excuse on July 23 and 30, and on August 18.

He admitted the August 18 breach in court today, and was described by his barrister, Elen Owen, as “open, honest and respectful”.

She said he has been provided with work in Liverpool by his maternal grandfather – “who didn’t know anything about his conviction”.

Ms Owen added: “There are things in this young man’s life that perhaps he’s not sharing with others.

“Clearly, there is more to this than meets the eye.”

She said he works five days a week, and has shown “excellent attendance on all other aspects of the order”.

Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry said he would be “failing in my public duty” if he did not activate Lees’ suspended sentence at all.

Judge Parry told Lees: “You were given a remarkable sentence for the original offence. Not many people involved in the supply of class A drugs avoid custody.

“You then threw that back in the face of the court and had to be produced on a breach.

“Quite inexplicably, despite that, you’ve continued to fail to attend.

“The public have faith that these are not orders that can be observed or not observed, depending on the whim of the defendant.

“You have simply not taken the chances.”