A JUDGE blasted a man's "feckless attitude" after he messed probation officers about prior to his sentence for serious motoring crimes.

Todd Owens, of Mount Pleasant in Methodist Hill, Froncysyllte, appeared for sentence at Mold Crown Court on Thursday morning.

The 29-year-old had been convicted at Wrexham Magistrates Court on a previous occasion of offences including: dangerous driving, failing to stop, criminal damage and driving whilst unfit through drink.

His offending took place over numerous areas including Chirk, Corwen, Llangollen, Ruabon and Johnstown.

In preparation for the sentencing hearing, the court had ordered a pre-sentence report on the previous occasion.

But Owens didn't attend his appointment with the probation service, and so no report was prepared.

Judge Simon Mills said: "So, an absolutely horrendous piece of dangerous driving over an extended period of time whilst the defendant was drunk...

"He's in a huge amount of trouble, looking at what I think is a nigh-on inevitability of immediate prison.

"But he is lightly convicted, so why didn't he turn up for the PSR (pre-sentence report)?"

Alexandra Carrier, defending, said: "The letter was sent to an address he wasn't staying at at the time, and when he had the email he read it on the morning, when he was in work, and wasn't able to reschedule.

"He is a hard worker."

The Judge branded the defendant's attitude "feckless" and cited his "sheer negligence."

He said: "The probation service that serves this court are hard working, dedicated people, who are working under immense pressure.

"They haven't got time for people like you to mess them about.

"I'm not having any of these pathetic excuses that you didn't know about the appointment. It was your responsibility to make sure they knew where you were living and how to contact you.

"The truth is that you put your head in the sand.

Denbighshire Free Press:

"You realised that in all likelihood you're going to prison because what you did was terribly serious and inexcusable behaviour."

The Judge agreed to adjourn the sentence to July 4 in order to give Owens one more chance to attend the appointment.

He warned the defendant: "It's up to you. You either turn up for the appointment, or you don't - you'll be arrested if you don't.

"You will not mess this court or probation about again, that's for certain."