'Last chance' for Wrexham teenager found with ketamine
Yussif Saeed of Glaslyn, Plas Madoc in Acrefair, appeared before Mold Crown Court this afternoon (May 15).
On February 24 of this year, the 18-year-old was handed a nine month term of detention in a young offenders institute, which was suspended for 12 months.
That was for one offence of wounding which took place in Wrexham city centre.
On April 14, he pleaded guilty in Wrexham Magistrates Court to one offence of being in possession of ketamine.
Joseph Lees, prosecuting, explained that he also pleaded guilty to breaching his suspended sentence order.
On February 26, at around 6pm, North Wales Police officers spotted Saeed at the King Street bus station in Wrexham, with two other individuals.
They had decided to stop as they were aware that he had 'a history of violence', the prosecution said.
Saeed was placed in handcuffs and searched. He admitted to officers that he has 'something in his pocket', which turned out to be a small quantity of ketamine.
He told them he was 'addicted' to the drug and admitted to having taken some of it earlier in the day, despite being on his way to work at the Village Bakery - a job he has since lost.
The drugs were seized and Saeed was 'sent on his way' by officers, Mr Lees said.
He was also summoned to attend court via postal requisition for being in breach of his suspended sentence.
The prosecution said that he had failed to comply with the order due to having missed pre-planned appointments with probation in March and April.
He had also breached the GPS exclusion zone eight times and completed just two of the 30 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement hours on the order, as well as just 24 of the 110 hours of unpaid work.
Andrew Jebb, defending Saeed, said the defendant was a 'very immature 18-year-old' and was 'someone with a great deal of growing up to do'.
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Mr Jebb added: "He perhaps does not fully appreciate the consequences that might flow if he doesn't fully comply with the order."
He said that the GPS breaches were mostly due to taxis Saeed was travelling in for work having 'just crossed the threshold'.
Sentencing Saeed, Judge Nicola Jones said that a continuation of the suspended sentence order would 'keep him away from the bus station'.
He was fined £140, and a further 25 hours of unpaid work were added to the initial 110 on the order.
The Judge said: "I find there are exceptional circumstances in this matter, because of your age and immaturity. But, this is the last chance you will get."
She added: "Mark my words - next time you breach this order, you will go before Judge (Rhys) Rowlands who dealt with you initially and he will send you to prison."
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