A HOMELESS man was looking for cigarette ends when he was found in possession of a knife in the grounds of the Pound Bakery in Wrexham.

Marcin Darowski, 24, who provided an address on Benjamin Road to the court, was seen on CCTV shortly after midnight being let into the courtyard at the rear of the Queens Square store by another male on January 17.

The pair knew the area was a location used by staff to smoke cigarettes, and gained access in the hope of finding enough tobacco on any that had been discarded. Darowski accepted he was on the premises, but denied it was for any other purpose than looking for cigarette ends, as he didn’t have any money to buy his own tobacco.

Justin Espie, prosecuting, told Mold Magistrates Court that the police were called and when they arrived at the scene, Darowski was searched and a three inch lock knife was found in one of his trouser pockets. He was arrested and told officers how he only had the knife to open tins and allow him to make sandwiches, due to his homelessness.

The Probation services spoke to Darowski and he said he hadn’t been aware of the law in relation to the possession of a knife in a public place and he only had it for his own personal use and would never consider using it as a weapon against anyone. He said he was currently sofa surfing when he could and when that wasn’t possible, he was living on the streets.

Alun Williams, defending, said his client had been living in the UK for the last three years, and had been working at the Tomlinson’s Dairy in Minera, until he lost his job when the factory closed last year.

Magistrates ordered him to carry out 120 hours unpaid work for being found in possession of the knife and he was fined £100 for entering the Pound Bakery premises. He must also pay court costs of £85 and a surcharge of £90.