AN Italian man has changed his plea to admit groping a woman in the town centre after watching CCTV of the incident as it was shown to a jury.

Antonio Zavettieri, 50, was standing trial at Swindon Crown Court after pleading not guilty to a charge of sexual assault on June 21, 2015.

But after footage from cameras covering the Wharf Green area was shown to the jury Zavettieri changed his mind to admit what he had done.

Zavettieri, who gave the court and address of Booth House, the Salvation Army hostel on Spring Gardens, pleaded guilty to the offence.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to Friday, March 3, and released him on bail until then.

Last summer Zavettieri admitted possessing a kitchen knife in public place when he appeared before town magistrates.

He was ordered to do 80 hours unpaid work as part of a six month community order and pay an £85 victim surcharge.

The Italian, who needed an interpreter for court proceedings, said he was living under a tree at the time and did not realise he could not have the three-inch blade in the UK.

He had been arrested outside Culvery Court, a hostel for the homeless on Harding Street, after staff would not let him in to his room because he was intoxicated, prosecutors told the hearing last summer.

The justices were told he had come to this country with his wife about four years ago but their marriage broke down shortly afterwards.

He said he had the small knife for protection as he had been attacked before when he was sleeping rough.