A CRIMINOLOGY student from Harlech has avoided a jail sentence after pleading guilty to charges of burglary and handling stolen goods.

Neil Wayne Davies, 42, of 4 Grogan Terrace, appeared before Dolgellau Magistrates Court on Thursday, 4 February where he was handed a 28 week suspended prison sentence for pleading guilty to two burglary charges, two handling stolen goods charges and driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.

Davies, who studies criminology and justice at Bangor University, was caught robbing the wine cellar at the Ty Mawr Hotel in Llanbedr on 27 December and was chased by staff and customers who detained him until police officers arrived.

After being arrested, police found car keys on Davies, who admitted that he had been banned from driving in April 2015 and had driven to the hotel in Llanbedr.

Prosecuting, Diane Williams, said that a local postman in Harlech was approached by Davies who asked if he wanted to buy equipment which had been owned by a deceased relative.

The postman and his brother purchased some goods from Davies but later discovered that there had been some burglaries in the town and informed the police.

Davies admitted stealing a cordless power drill valued at £150 from a shed at Penrallt Bach in Harlech between 20 December and 24 January.

Police then discovered other stolen good at the defendants home and Davies admitted handling stolen goods valued at £543 belonging to Colel Harlech and handing equipment including a leaf blower, chainsaw and hedge trimmer belonging to Royal St Davids Golf Club.

In passing his suspended prison sentence, court chairman Alun Pugh said: “We see that you are studying criminology and justice, you certainly are gaining experience. One more slip like this and you will not be able to proceed, even if you graduate.”

As well as sentencing Davies to a 28 week prison sentence, which is suspended for 12 months, the court also ordered the defendant to attend a six months low lever drugs rehabilitation course and attend 25 sessions with the probation service.

Davies was disqualified from driving for a further 18-months and pay £30 compensation to the Ty Mawr Hotel for a broken Whiskey bottle, £543 compensation to Coleg Harlech for the stolen goods that were not recovered and £275 to the Harlech men who purchased the stolen goods in good faith with £85 court costs making a total of £933.