A 26-year-old Ammanford man has been left disappointed after a district judge refused to send him to jail.

Matthew John Brown, of 35 Arthur Street, appeared at Llanelli magistrates court and asked to be sent to prison claiming he would probably be jailed “in the next month or so anyway”.

Brown appeared to admit committing a breach of public order while subject to a suspended sentence.

The court was told how Brown – also known as Matthew Wright – had become embroiled in an altercation with Joshua Ellicott - his sister’s boyfriend – in Ammanford on November 11.

Brown, with his mother and sister watching on, pleaded guilty to using threatening words and behaviour in a public place and urged district judge Mark Layton to activate his sentence and send him to jail.

David Elvy, defending, told the court the incident had involved the two men and Brown’s sister.

“It’s a complicated family situation,” Mr Elvy said.

He told the court how Brown was currently the subject of a six-month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

The sentence also included Brown attending various sessions with probation and other support workers.

“He tells me he is having a difficult time with the suspended sentence order,” said Mr Elvy.

“A number of sessions have already been missed.

“As far as he is concerned the suspended sentence is simply a time-bomb ticking away in the background.

“He has asked that the court say that as he is in breach of the order and that it was a breach soon after the order began, he should be jailed.

“He says he would be better off in prison.”

Mr Elvy said he had explained to Brown that the offence admitted was non-imprisonable, but his client still wished to be jailed.

“If that action is not taken then most likely he will be back in court for another breach in the next month or so and waiting for that breach is making things even worse for him.

“These are an unusual set of circumstances,” added Mr Elvy.

Mr Layton rejected Brown’s request saying: “I am reluctant to active a suspended sentence on a public order offence particularly when there are fairly complex issues. I do not think it is right.”

Brown was fined £75 for the offence and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a further £20 legal surcharge.

He was fined an additional £50 for breaching his suspended sentence.

Clearly disappointed, Brown was released.