NOTICING a gap on the shelves where there should have been razor blades staff at Wilkos in the town centre examined the CCTV footage and spotted two men making off with the stock without paying.

The men, 25-year-old Lee Gillett and 29-year-old Carl Hiett, both of no fixed abode, came before magistrates sitting in Swindon where they pleaded guilty to the theft of £84-worth of razors belonging to the store on June 17.

Crown prosecutor James Burnham told the court that the pair had been identified from CCTV and arrested on Deacon Street two days later.

Defending Gillett, Emma Thacker told the court her client had been homeless for the last two years after his mother had asked him to leave the family home. “His benefits were stopped in March because he didn’t attend an appointment,” she said. “The letter was sent to his mother’s address which he never received. He stole the items to sell so he could eat. He doesn’t take drugs and he doesn’t drink.”

Defending Hiett, Alexis Pink said: “He is currently living between car parks in Swindon and he has had his property taken from him four times by the council which has left him with the clothes he stands in – and even they don’t belong to him. He was placed in a hostel but he explained he couldn’t cope in that environment and had a mental breakdown.

“He was using drugs since the age of 12, but he stopped those drugs and stopped drinking two years ago.

Sentencing Gillett chairman of the bench Gray Gilbert told him he should make the most of the opportunity of working with the probation service. He imposed a six month community order during which he must complete ten rehabilitative activity days. He was also ordered to pay £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and £42 compensation to Wilkinsons.

Sentencing Hiett he said: “Your record is pretty shabby for all sorts of reasons so you must now take this as an opportunity to move forward.” He revoked his current community order and replaced it with a new 12 month order during which he must complete 25 rehabilitative activity days. He was also ordered to pay £85 Crown Prosecution Service costs and £42 compensation to Wilkinsons.