A MAN addicted to the psychoactive substance 'spice' stole flapjacks worth £2.80 from a library because he was hungry and had not eaten for days, a court has heard.

And Eduardo Silva also pinched three sets of hair clippers and a phone charger from two town centre stores out of desperation to sell and make cash to buy more food.

The homeless 20-year-old, who was kicked out of his father’s house two years ago for smoking cannabis, came before magistrates sitting in Swindon on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to stealing two hair clippers worth £45 from Wilko on June 30, going back the following day and stealing another set worth £20, making off with a £44.99 wireless Samsung charger from O2 on June 25 and pinching two flapjacks from Central Library less than a fortnight ago.

By going into the retail premises it also put him in breach of his bail, which he admitted.

Keith Ballinger, on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Silva was caught on CCTV and later arrested and questioned by police where he told them he stole the flapjacks “because he was hungry.”

Sambreen Arif, defending, told the court that Silva moved to the town from Cuba around six years again and has fallen onto hardship after losing a document called a Biometric Residence Permit, which allows him to reside in the country and claim benefits.

She explained how this led him to committing the offences in order to survive.

Ms Arif said: “He seems to have fallen out with his father as a result of smoking cannabis and moved on to smoking the former legal high substance spice. He is living on the streets or a homeless shelter.

“The night before last he was in a night shelter in Moredon. His life has unfortunately taken a downward spiral.

“What he says is he does want to address his behaviour. He did not steal the items to fund his habit, but to buy food. He does have a girlfriend who gives him money from time to time.

“He tells me he sold the hair clippers to buy food for himself because he had not eaten for days.

“He currently appears before the court with numerous shoplifting offences. He really does want to try and sort himself out and wants to get a job.”

The court also heard how Silva has been in court last week for assaulting a police officer.

Bench chairman Nigel Spinney told Silva: “We’ve considered these matters that you are facing today; four thefts. We’ve decided to revoke your current community order you are on and issue a suspended sentence for 18 months.

“This sentence is for 12 weeks, reduced to nine weeks for your guilty plea. You will also have to carry out 20 rehabilitation requirement days and 80 hours unpaid work.”

Mr Spinney also told Silva he must pay £112.79 in compensation to the shops and a victim surcharge of £2.21, bringing the total to £115.