A man ordered to do unpaid work after a drug conspiracy has landed back in court after prioritizing his job over the court order.
Lewis Boston has not lost “a single day” at his job as a plumber, but he has repeatedly missed appointments with the probation service, a court has heard.
The 27-year-old from Roath, Cardiff, was sentenced in July 2021 for possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
The father-of-two received an 18-month jail term suspended for 24 months, as well as 100 hours of unpaid work, with prosecutor Karl Williams revealing that Boston has only put in six hours and 40 minutes of that work. reports Wales online.
Williams said Boston had provided sick notes for three missed appointments and missed another occasion because of his job, where he earns £500 a week.
On three other dates, he did not attend due to “mental health issues” but did not provide any proof.
He also received a formal warning for using objectionable language in a voicemail to a probation officer.
Judge Jeremy Jenkins recalled an earlier hearing in January when he warned Boston that any further noncompliance would be “unacceptable” and that if he was not medically fit to keep appointments, he had to present evidence.
Boston, of Pen-Y-Wain Road, admitted she had since missed appointments, but her lawyer Emily Jermin said: “She is not taking for granted the opportunity she was given last time around.”
He acknowledged that his client had not been “perfect” but noted that the probation service accepted some absences, including one due to a chest infection.
He has also been “suffering extremely badly” with anxiety and depression following a stabbing two years ago that left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and “decreased motivation”, Ms Jermin told the judge.
“She had to leave an appointment early because one of her children was not well and she had to take care of them,” he added.
“This shows that he has a degree of conscience, particularly with regard to his family. He is afraid of prison and the impact it would have on his mental health, for which he is on medication.
“Your Honor will note that your last substantive criminal offense was in 2019 for the drug offence.
“There have been no traditional offenses since then and this shows a degree of rehabilitation…He just needs to show a little more discipline and motivation going forward.”
Judge Jenkins told Boston that he was on “very thin ice” and that if his boss, Mr. Duggan, had not written a letter of support, the suspended sentence would have been activated.
The judge said: “It is ironic that Mr Duggan says in the letter: ‘He has not missed a single day, which has impressed me very much.’
“It is a pity that the probation service cannot say as much about the order issued by this court.
“It is this court order that you should prioritize, not Mr. Duggan.
“I appreciate you paying him £500 a week and the probation service doesn’t pay him anything. And they shouldn’t either. This is a punishment, not a job.”
The judge imposed a fine of £500 and £150 in processing costs that Boston must pay at the rate of £100 per month.
Judge Jenkins told Boston that if there were any further violations of the order “you’ll be back before me and you’ll know where you’re going.”
He added: “I hope that warning rings in your ears because you won’t get a second chance.”