A MAN who denied breaching non-molestation orders in Wem will no longer face prosecution after no evidence was offered on Friday.

Paul Latham, 28 and of no fixed abode, was barred from contacting family members in Market Street in an order that was given to him in May 2023.

Latham was accused of breaching the orders in October and November last year, but he had previously denied them and was set for a trial from Monday, April 29.

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However, at Shrewsbury Crown Court – sitting at Telford Justice Centre – on Friday, April 26, prosecutor Kevin Jones told the court that the Crown Prosecution Service would not be offering any evidence.

Latham had previously denied attending a property in Wem in October despite an order in place blocking him from doing so.

He also denied sending a letter to the same property in November 2023, and leaving a number of voicemails during October and November, all in breach of the order.

He denied two further counts of attending Market Street in October and December last year, and is alleged to have posted a leaflet through the door at the property. These charges have now been discontinued.

However, Latham is awaiting sentence for other breaches that he had previously admitted.

Mr Jones told the court that ‘it had been a difficult case for all concerned’.

He called on Recorder Stuart Sprawson, overseeing the case, to give a sentencing date so a ‘carefully-crafted’ restraining order could be given that would be easier for the defendant to understand.

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Mr Smith asked for a date to be set of around four weeks but all agreed that both the defence and probation could call for more time if needed.

Paul Smith, defending, called for Recorder Sprawson to order a pre-sentence report and that probation would need access to a previous psychological report.

Recorder Sprawson set a date of Friday, May 24 for sentencing and agreed to an early draft of a restraining order for Latham to not enter Wem or contact family members upon his release from custody.