Rhyl Man Jailed After Knife Incident Following Breakup

A Rhyl man who “completely and utterly lost it” after his relationship ended has been sentenced to 16 months in prison. Mark Hatswell, 40, admitted possession of a bladed article in public and several other offences during an incident where he smashed his ex-partner’s car and brandished a knife in the street 🚨

Mold Crown Court heard that on April 8, police responded to calls from Hatswell’s former partner reporting he had thrown a concrete slab through her car window before returning with a knife. Upon arrest, Hatswell tested positive for cocaine and cannabis.

“He said he had intended to kill himself in front of the complainant to see her face,” prosecutor Laura Knightly told the court. The victim stated she didn’t know how far “he would have taken things” had police not arrived and intervened, adding that her child is traumatised by the incident.

The court was informed that Hatswell became upset after learning his ex-partner was seeing someone else. Defence counsel Joshua Gorst explained that when she refused his invitation to dinner, Hatswell “relapsed to drink and drugs to numb the pain” and only intended to harm himself with the knife.

His Honour Judge Simon Mills described Hatswell’s behaviour as “nearly primeval” and “utterly unacceptable,” telling the defendant: “If you did harm yourself what a dreadful thing to do in front of your former partner.”

In addition to the 16-month sentence for possession of a bladed article, Hatswell received a concurrent 16-month term for breaching a restraining order against the same woman. The judge also imposed a fresh five-year restraining order. ⚖️