A MAN who made a promise to his dying father to stay out of trouble has been given a suspended sentence after being caught with a knife in public.

Eugene Derek Dykins, 23, of no fixed abode, was caught on CCTV on Meadowbank in Holywell, showing off a six inch blade to several people, before putting back in his pocket.

He initially denied the charge of possessing, but on the day of his trial on January 30, changed his plea to guilty.

Dykins said how he had taken the knife off two other people during an altercation, believing he was carrying out a good deed; however, a District Judge said he failed to see how that completely rang true.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting at Mold Magistrates Court, said at around 5.30pm on September 13 last year, when Dykins, wearing a turquoise hooded top, had been observed by CCTV operators taking out the knife and showing it to a group of people.

Children had been present and although he soon put it back in his pocket, he was arrested by police, and gave a no comment interview.

She said Dykins also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to surrender to Mold Magistrates Court on December 5.

Probation officer Pamela Roberts said how Dykins had a limited recollection of the offence and was unable to say who he had allegedly taken the knife off, other than he had done so to stop an altercation.

He had been born and raised in Holywell and had lived with his father on Meadowbank until his death more than two years ago.

Despite taking on the tenancy at the council property after his father died, Dykins had recently been evicted due to issues of antisocial behaviour and being in arrears on his rent.

However, she said Dykins was suitable to work with the probation service again, having engaged with them successfully in the past.

Laura Preston-Hayes, defending, said she had known Dykins and his family for years and was shocked to see him in court on such a serious matter having previously only made appearances for incidents of theft. She said his father had always tried to keep his children on the straight and narrow and when he was dying, made his son promise he would stay out of trouble.

Despite doing so, and not appearing in the courts since 2017, she said Dykins, who is diagnosed with ADHD, was really disappointed this offence would mean he was breaking that promise. The starting point for such an offence was an immediate custodial sentence, but she asked if any term of imprisonment could be suspended.

She said: “He has a problem with consequential thinking. He made no attempt to conceal his identity on the CCTV, despite the fact he knew the cameras were there.

"He got quite the shock the last time he experienced custody and remains very positive that he doesn’t want to re-offend and let down the promise he made to his father.”

Sentencing him to 20 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months, District Judge Andrew Jebb told Dykins his lack of offending in the last three years had gone in his favour and his solicitor had very ably argued his case.

He said: “Whatever the reason you had the knife with you, it seems it was very much an offence very much out of character and you haven’t offended in any since. You didn’t use it any way that would have been a danger to anyone else.”

Dykins must also complete 200 hours of unpaid work and do 10 days of rehabilitation with the probation service. He must pay costs of £250 and a surcharge of £122.