Admitting to serious crimes usually lands lawbreakers straight in prison. But one lucky man has been allowed to spend a week in the sun on holiday before he faces his sentence.

A judge in Wales has agreed to delay the sentencing of Colin Watson, 51, by a matter of weeks as he prepares his remarks.

Judge Jeremy Jenkins agreed that Mr Watson, from Pontypool, can go on the holiday he booked to the Canary Islands in the meantime, warning him to come back and face prison, as he told him: "Don't let me down".

But reacting to the “bizarre” turn of justice, campaigners have suggested that it would confuse the process to allow a criminal to go on holiday and that it sends mixed messages to victims of crime.

On Monday the 51-year-old pleaded guilty to five offences, including possession of cocaine and a stun gun.

Cardiff Crown Court heard how the defendant was caught by police with cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis in Newport Town Centre whilst armed with a stun gun and an extendable baton in October last year.

Mr Watson admitted to possession of a prohibited weapon, having an offensive weapon, and possession of cocaine, ecstasy, and cannabis on High Street, Newport on a Saturday.