A Newtown man has told a court that he wants to leave drugs behind him and start a better life for his unborn baby daughter.

Ashley Cunliffe, 34, of Ceiriog, Treowen, escaped a prison sentence after he was caught with a wrap of cocaine inside a Kinder Egg container.

Dr Rachel Jones, chair of the magistrates' bench, told the father-of-two that "we are trusting you that you are going to turn your life around" after handing him a 12-month community order.

Police found the cocaine inside the Kinder Egg after searching Cunliffe in Newtown on May 20. He was detained and searched again on August 14 when officers found a snap bag of 0.6 grams white powder which Cunliffe admitted was the Class A drug.

Julian Davies, probation officer, told the court: "Both offences were for his own use and he says he was a regular cocaine user at the time.

"Mr Cunliffe says he had previous issues with weekend alcohol binge sessions but no longer uses alcohol. He says he was a regular user of cocaine but has not used drugs for 14 days.

Mr Davies added: "Mr Cunliffe tells me he’s more stable now and wants to stay off drugs and remain stable for his new baby daughter."

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The court was told that Cunliffe has a "high risk" of reoffending and has 13 previous convictions for violence, five relating to drugs and eight breaches of court orders which the last was in 2018.

Asked by the chair whether they can trust him not to reoffend, Cunliffe said: "You finally get fed up with things. I'm 34 and I'm not getting any younger and I want to better for my child and wife. You deserve a chance in life. I'm standing in this box saying I won't reoffend."

After pleading guilty to two offences - attempting to posses and possessing a Class A drug - magistrates ordered Cunliffe to complete 15 rehabilitation requirement days as apart of his 12-month community order. He was also ordered to pay a £100 fine. £160 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Dr Rachel Jones, chair, told the father-of-two: "It's not going to be prison but we did consider a suspended prison sentence

"You will be getting a community order because we are trusting you that you are going to turn your life around. We hope we won't see you again in this court, it's not that we don’t like you.

"I want to say again Mr Cunliffe - turn your life around."