Wrexham: Homeless man failed to appear in court after tent was set on fire

John Davey Evans, 41, appeared in custody at Wrexham Magistrates Court where he admitted helping three other men who stole a shed from a council house on Holt Road, Wrexham on April 8.

He was due to appear before magistrates last month but Melissa Griffiths, defending, said that the tent in which he had been living for several months had been set on fire the night before the hearing.

"It slipped his mind that he was due in court that day. I think he's then stuck his head in the sand and waited for police to arrest him rather than just come to court," she added.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, said that police discovered that the shed had been taken after calls reported suspicious behaviour a council house at Holt Road and fence panels being taken from another property in Glan Garth.

A previous hearing heard how the shed had been disassembled and taken.

Mr Espie told the hearing that 34 year old Nathan Heywood, of Y Wern in Caia Park, was placed on an eight week curfew for the theft while William Richard Haynes, 20, of Bryn Hafod in Wrexham, received a 12 month conditional discharge.

Harry Christopher Haynes, 18, also of Bryn Hafod, was handed a 20 day rehabilitation activity requirement and all three were ordered to pay £129 and 25 pence in compensation to Wrexham Council.

Miss Griffiths said that Evans had been asked by one of the others to help move the shed, was told he would be given £10 and foolishly agreed to help.

Evans was not one of the men seen stacking the shed and fence panels in Glan Garth, and was not in possession of the items when stopped but had admitted his part in the offence to police when stopped.

"He accepts he's just as guilty as they are but I would suggest that he's on the periphery rather than a main player," she added.

Magistrates ordered Evans to pay the same amount of compensation as the other men, £85 in prosecution cost and a £30 surcharge.

There was no separate penalty for failing to attend court.