A BURGLAR whose passport was found inside a raided supermarket has had the charge against him dropped.

Richard Godden was alleged to have been part of a raid on the Gorse Hill branch of the Co-op store where his travel document was found.

But after the 32-year-old insisted he had loaned the paperwork to pal Bryan Chubb, who admitted carrying out the break-in, prosecutors dropped the charge.

Godden will still face sentence for stealing tobacco and cigarettes from a different Co-op, in Cheney Manor Road, a few days earlier.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court that after reviewing the evidence a trial would not be sought.

Rob Ross, defending, asked for the case to be put off so the probation service can compile a pre-sentence report on his client.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to Tuesday, November 24, and released him on bail until then.

At an earlier hearing Godden, of Oakham Close, Toothill, pleaded guilty to burglary of the Cheney Manor Co-op on Wednesday, May 13.

He had also been accused of taking part in the break in at the Cricklade Road branch a few days later, which he denied.

Bryan Chubb, 33, was jailed for 24 weeks in September after admitting taking part in the raid which netted £4,500 worth of goods.

The shop's alarm went off in the early hours of Sunday, May 17, and CCTV from the premises showed two hooded men entering and stealing cigarettes and tobacco.

When police arrived they found a blood stain which was found to come from Chubb, of Imber Walk, and Godden's passport.

At the earlier hearing Mr Ross told the court that Godden was aware who had been involved in the raid and it wasn't him.

"My client has given very clear instructions who that other person on CCTV is," he said.

"He indicates a chap called Bryan Chubb had his passport and he had it with him and dropped it.

"I am aware the CCTV shows two offenders and I have been given the name of the other man and he is not in the dock at the moment."