A spray paint vandal due to appear in court for breaching an order has died.
Rufus Budd, 27, was jailed for 16 months and was been made subject to a criminal behaviour order in 2020 after being convicted of spray painting his tag "Lyfer" across stations and trains in Bridgend and Cardiff.
He was in breach of that order after being found to be drunk at a police station in Barry in June this year and was due to be sentenced.
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But it was brought to the court's attention that Budd was found dead at a flat in Porthcawl on August 5.
Giving evidence at a hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday PC Shaun Ruggieri of British Transport Police read a statement from scene of crime investigator Melanie Fraser who attended the scene of Budd's death.
She said she attended a second-floor flat after the occupant returned home to find the defendant lifeless on the sofa.
Budd, of Roath, Cardiff, had been placed on his back on the floor at the request of the emergency services and when paramedics attended they confirmed his death.
There appeared to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding Budd's death. A small plastic tub containing unused needles was found but no other drug paraphernalia was discovered near the body or in the flat.
Prosecutor Laurence Jones asked PC Ruggieri, who had previously arrested Budd, if he had seen a photo of the deceased and if he could confirm his identity. The officer confirmed the deceased person was Budd.
Judge David Wynn Morgan ordered for the committal to be endorsed and ceased court proceedings in respect of Budd.
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