A TEENAGER from Anglesey has been spared jail after he drunkenly assaulted two police officers as they tried to arrest him.
Llyr Huws, 19, of Bryn Triban, was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year-and-a-half, at Caernarfon Crown Court today (August 23).
He had previously admitted two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker, as well as one charge each of escaping from lawful custody and causing criminal damage.
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Prosecuting, Laura Knightly told the court that, on August 28, 2022, officers were attempted to take Huws to the floor to arrest him, but were unsuccessful due to his size and strength.
After eventually being placed under arrest at 2.30am that morning, Huws was handcuffed and taken to a police vehicle, but continued to resist.
He had consumed drugs and 16 pints of alcohol that night, the court heard.
As an officer’s attention momentarily turned elsewhere, Huws ran away; a chase ensued, but the defendant was able to outrun the policemen.
Huws was found crouching behind a parked vehicle soon after, before a tussle ensued as an officer tackled him against a wall.
He was also subject to a police referral order at the time of these offences, and was at large for just more than one hour.
Defending Huws, who had two previous convictions for offences he committed as a youth, Richard Edwards said that the defendant’s initial impression was that the officers accused him of assaulting a man requiring paramedics’ assistance at the scene.
Mr Edwards admitted that he made “clearly the wrong decision” in how he reacted, but that his client is “not trying to justify what happened”.
He said Huws is “still maturing”, and that he suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which can “cause him to panic in certain situations”.
Huws, who was also injured himself in the incident, had a “stable, protective family environment”, and has been undertaking building and roofing work.
Mr Edwards said he has not re-offended in the 12 months since this incident, and is “working hard”, and has “stopped drinking to excess” and “cut ties with old associates”.
Sentencing, Judge Niclas Parry told Huws that he behaved “disgracefully” in what was a “prolonged incident”.
But he agreed to suspend Huws’ custodial sentence because of “what you’ve done over the last 12 months”.
Huws was also ordered to complete 125 hours’ unpaid work, 15 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements, and a 35-day programme.
He will pay £720 in costs, and compensation of £150, as well as a statutory surcharge.
Judge Parry told Huws: “You didn’t commit these offences because you have ADHD. You committed them because you had drank 16 pints of alcohol and taken drugs.
“You can’t simply carry on offending violently.”
Reserving Huws’ case to himself should he re-offend, Judge Parry added: “You’ve earned your chance; take it. Don’t re-offend, don’t breach the order.”
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