It was third time unlucky for a Pembroke Dock man this week as he was jailed for breaching the requirements of a suspended sentence order.

Thirty-four-year-old Oliver George Torkington of Miton Terrace appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday for sentencing after being found guilty of breaching the requirements following a trial the previous day.

Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that Mr. Torkington has committed a third breach of his community order terms after he was originally sentenced on Christmas Eve 2018 at Llanelli Magistrates Court for assaulting three police officers outside a pub in the town.

He was given three months suspended for 12 months with 120 hours of unpaid work.

The court heard that the first breach came on April 1, of last year when the defendant failed to attend unpaid work appointments.

He then breached his order in July again last year before failing to show up for a court hearing, with a warrant being issued for his arrest.

This was executed on October 7 and the order was allowed to continue, with the suspended sentence period increased to 15 months and the hours of unpaid work were increased to 160.

Mr. Torkington committed the third breach of his community order after he failed to attend an unpaid work induction on October 11 and then again earlier this year on January 4.

The bench heard that only 12 hours of the 160 hours had been completed.

Ms. Norman explained that the defendant was instructed to attend a charity as part of his unpaid work placement, but only attended once on a Saturday as he was told to do so.

She added that Mr. Torkington had poor compliance and a lack of motivation.

“I ask that you activate the suspended sentence,” Ms. Norman requested.

Defence solicitor Mike Kelleher told the court that his client took the issue seriously and was in court for a prison sentence.

He explained that thre defendant’s attending manager from probation only met him for the first time at his trial on Monday.

Mr. Kelleher said his client did make attempts to attend his appointments as he texted his attending manager which was acknowledged.

The court heard that the defendant had suffered with mental health issues, after a previous relationship had broken down and also whilst his businesses were collapsing, continued Mr. Kelleher.

However, he said that Mr. Torkington had turned his life around as he now had a new partner, and was not the same person as before.

It was heard that the defendant was now setting up a new business in Carmarthen where he was going to be the sales manager, and that the business would suffer if the defendant was jailed as he was seen as a vital cog.

Mr. Kelleher added that Mr. Torkington must jump up and do the work, and that the whole experience had shocked him.

On sentencing, the chairman of the bench said: “We have no other choice but to activate the suspended sentence.

“You have been given opportunity time after time.”

Magistrates sent Mr. Torkington to jail for 12 weeks and ordered him to pay £180 in costs.