Rhos man jailed for having knife in public

Connor Reavey, of Ffordd Offa in Rhos, appeared at Mold Crown Court on Thursday for sentence.

The 20-year-old had previously admitted possessing a blade in public.

Catherine Elvin, prosecuting, told the court that on April 28 this year Reavey attended at a probation centre in Wrexham for a pre-planned appointment with officers.

During the meeting, he expressed homicidal thoughts - including how he "felt like stabbing people."

He said he felt excluded from education and employment and "spent all his time alone" thinking about violence.

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Ms Elvin said the defendant told probation officers he had a "plan in mind" which included going out and harming members of the public until the police eventually caught and arrested him.

The officers challenged those statements and said the defendant appeared to be in a better frame of mind when he left.

However, it was suspected that he had a blade on him when he attended, so North Wales Police was informed.

Connor Reavey. Image: North Wales Police

Officers later located Reavey in Wrexham and found a knife in his pocket.

When interviewed he told officers he was depressed and felt let down, having not been offered a college education.

Ms Elvin told the court the defendant had three prior convictions for possession of a knife.

James Coutts, defending, said: "It is a sad reality that he has managed to get into a spiral that he has not been able to break.

"What is abundant is that he gets himself into a situation where he feels as though people are standing in his way rather than trying to help him.

"Unfortunately when he gets into those positions he reacts in the way that he does."

He added it is hoped his client will be able to "get his head down" in prison and make use of rehabilitative activities when they are available.

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The court also heard the defendant has "personal mental health difficulties."

Judge Niclas Parry told Reavey: "The world is not against you, honestly. At the moment you believe it is.

"The probation officers are trying to help you, but you don't believe them.

"You were making noises about going out and wanting to stab people and, properly, they called the police.

"You blame everyone but yourself and the reality is that the public in North Wales are getting more and more concerned about knife crime.

"Worse things are happening because people are carrying knives and it's got to stop.

"When you use cannabis and spice like you do, even if you don't intend to use [a knife] but you have it and you get into an altercation - you might use it."

The Judge said he took into consideration the fact that the blade wasn't produced, brandished or used to threaten anyone.

Reavey was jailed for 14 months and an order for the destruction of the knife was made.

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