A RUABON man told a judge he was living in a shed when he was hauled in front of a court for breaching the conditions of his suspended sentence.

Michael Meisterjahn, 32, was handed a two-year suspended prison sentence last July after being convicted of affray, two counts of making a threat with a knife and making threats to kill.

The court heard then that he was described as being “psychotic” when he armed himself with a steak knife and targeted relative Darryl Evans and his pal, Matthew Hughes, in Ruabon last January.

He was under a suspended sentence at the time of those offences, but having served the equivalent of a 16-month sentence on remand the judge in the case, Niclas Parry, viewed he would be better off receiving supervision in the community.

But prosecuting barrister Simon Rogers told the court that a home visit on January 4 found that Meisterjahn was not living at his mother’s address at Hampsons Grove in Ruabon where he was required to stay and there had been allegations of criminal damage.

He was arrested and brought to court in custody.

“He has only completed four rehabilitation days and he was required to engage with mental health and substance abuse services but he has only attended on one occasion,” said the barrister.

Mr Rogers said that probation officers wanted the order revoked and Meisterjahn’s custodial sentence activated.

But Meisterjahn, who represented himself, told Judge Rhys Rowlands that he disputed the need for help with his mental health.

He said he was living in a shed in the garden of his sister’s home and had found work on a nearby farm.

An offer to be housed at the council-run night shelter Ty Nos had been turned down, he said, because he didn’t want to meet up with former “drug-taking associates”.

“It is a bit much if I get two years as I am someone trying to put my past behind me,” said Meisterjahn. “I am staying in the shed and I have informed probation about it.

“I phoned them and told them I was at my sister’s house. I didn’t believe I was doing anything wrong. I’ve engaged with probation and been to every single appointment.

“I refused to go to the night shelter because it is part of my past and associates I used to take drugs with. I’ve converted the shed into a room and stay there at night and it doesn’t cause concern to anyone.”

The judge agreed to release Meisterjahn on bail and said he would adjourn the hearing until February 4, by which time he would have to prove that he had a satisfactory address and that he was keeping with his RAR (rehabilitation activity requirement) appointments.