A WELSHPOOL man has been spared jail, despite breaching a suspended prison sentence order.

Magistrates in Welshpool this week decided not to send Leon Nathan Sedgewick to jail as they were encouraged by the progress he is making on his order, and in his life, following a couple of blips.

The 30-year-old had breached the suspended sentence order – issued in October last year for a series of thefts – on two occasions in March this year, admitting to both offences.

Probation officer Julain Davies told magistrates on Tuesday, May 11, that the suspended sentence order – issued following two thefts relating to stealing gardening tools at an address in Stoke-on-Trent in August 2019 – involved Sedgewick having to complete 60 hours of unpaid work and 10 rehabilitation activity days.

“He failed to attend appointments on March 16 and March 26 and had been out of contact since March 18,” said Mr Davies.

“He has completed only one rehabilitation day and one hour of unpaid work. Initially, he had acceptable absences, but he became of no fixed abode after a recent relationship break-up.

“He has since reengaged with his offender manager and is in employment; he works four days on, four days off at a local cold storage facility, and has secure accommodation in Welshpool.

“I ask you to consider to allow the order to continue and impose a curfew.”

Rob Hanratty, acting for the defendant, of Mount Street, Welshpool, said: “Rather than the offending being currently indicative of a chaotic lifestyle, this is not the case at all.

“He is in a relationship with a nice young lady. I would hope it’s a major turning point in his life. He is in employment, has been in the job for four weeks, and things are looking up for him.

“Hopefully, we never see Mr Sedgewick here again.”

Rebecca Klug, chair of the bench, told Sedgewick: “We have had a long, difficult discussion about you. Normally a breach of a suspended sentence order would see us sending you straight to prison.

“But we were encouraged that you are re-engaging with probation. We have decided to allow you to continue the suspended sentence order.”

They imposed a curfew, meaning that for the next four months, Sedgewick must remain at home from 8pm-5am. They added an additional 30 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £60 costs.