A MAN from Llandudno who assaulted a police officer, caused criminal damage to property, and twice carried a knife in public, has been spared jail.

Andrew Duncan, 56, of Ty Gwyn Road, was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment, suspended for a year-and-a-half, at Mold Crown Court today (September 27).

He had previously pleaded guilty to the following charges:

  • Possess knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place.
  • Possess knife blade / sharp pointed article in a public place.
  • Common assault of an emergency worker.
  • Criminal damage.

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Prosecuting, Frances Willmott told the court that on July 26, 2022, Duncan was at the ROAB Club on Madoc Street with his partner, Mary Hills, when an argument ensued between them at about 10pm.

The two left the premises, but two men inside the club then heard a “bang” from outside, so went to see what had happened.

They found Duncan crouched over his partner on the floor, before he stood up, pulled a knife from a trouser pocket, and shouted at the men who had come outside.

Duncan appeared to have been knocked unconscious after a brawl broke out.

The knife was recovered, and police arrested Duncan, who told officers that it was a “potato knife” belonging to his father.

He was unable to explain how the knife was on his person, and could not recall the incident or the fight.

On August 18, 2022, Ms Hills left the home address of Duncan, not on bail at the time, following an “incident”.

When she tried to call police, Duncan, under the influence of alcohol, took her mobile phone from her hand and threw it to the ground, before stamping on it.

He said he may have thrown the phone but denied causing it damage, saying that it had a protective case on it.

On December 10, 2022 at about 11.30am, police attended Ms Hill’s address, following reports that Duncan was present.

Officers found him in a corridor, bleeding from a cut to the top of his head and seemingly drunk.

He was said to have been “making threats to have the officers shot”, and struck the legs of a police constable three times after she had attempted to restrain him.

This caused her to fall back against a wall, and left her legs bruised.

In a statement, the constable said she was merely trying to protect Duncan from injuring himself, and to protect Ms Hills.

On January 19, Duncan was stopped while driving in Old Colwyn, as he appeared to be “under the influence”.

His vehicle was searched, and in a black binbag, a small orange kitchen knife was found.

He had 85 previous convictions for 185 offences, with Judge Niclas Parry telling him he had “one of the worst antecedent histories I’ve seen”.

Defending, Richard Edwards said these incidents depicted Duncan as “very different to the man this defendant can be”.

His drug addiction has “shaped this defendant’s life for over 27 years”, Mr Edwards added, but he was said to have made “huge steps in his own rehabilitation”.

Duncan has stopped taking heroin, and had been working as a course co-ordinator for a Manchester-based company helping others battling addiction.

He had to give up his job to care for his “seriously ill” father, who has now died, but hopes to return to this line of work as soon as possible.

Mr Edwards added that Duncan has spent six months on remand in custody.

Sentencing, Judge Parry agreed to suspend Duncan’s custodial sentence, on the basis that there was a “glimmer of hope” for him.

A five-year restraining order was imposed, prohibiting him from contacting Ms Hills, entering any premises which he knows she is occupying or working at, or making any reference to her on social media.

Duncan will also complete a 35-session “thinking skills” programme and 20 days’ rehabilitation activity requirements.

He will attend court every month for a review, with the first to be conducted on November 22.

The two knives were ordered to be forfeited and destroyed, while Duncan will also pay a statutory surcharge.

Judge Parry added: “I commend the police officer who tried to help you and, in fact, those gentlemen who came out at the first incident, to try to resolve the first incident where there was somebody out of control with a knife.”