A heroin addict who tried to rob a man in the town centre has been remanded in custody by a judge

Mark Thirkettle admitted trying to steal from his victim in front of police who were patrolling outside pubs and clubs on Monday February 13.

And prosecutors said they would drop a charge of him having a bladed article after he claimed the scissors he had on him were to help with his shoplifting.

The 44-year-old, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and not guilty to having a bladed article when he appeared at Swindon Crown Court.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client was hoping to avoid another jail term as he had been forced to get clean on drugs while inside on remand.

He said "He has been a heroin addict for at least 14 or 15 years by his own admission," to which his client added from the dock 'longer than that'.

When he was remanded in custody by magistrates in Chippenham he was initially taken to Bristol, but it was in lock down so he ended up in Cardiff.

Mr Ross said as a result he was unable to get on methadone and so was now off all drugs, including replacements.

"This is the first time he has been in custody where he hasn't been able to get medication," Mr Ross said.

"As a consequence he had to do a cold turkey detox: that is the first time he has had to do that.

"It is the first time we have seen him in 15 years that he is clean of drugs. He does have stable accommodation and is now clean."

He said that apart from a serious assault before Bristol Crown Court in 2010 almost all of his offending was petty shoplifting to feed his habit.

"The attempted robbery is a robbery without weapons, it involved knocking a man over. He was seen by police officers doing it," he said.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told the court that officers in Fleet Street saw the defendant on top of a man on the ground.

When they spoke to him he told them he had been hit and Thirkettle had been trying to take his wallet from him when he was on the ground.

She said a decision had been made to drop the scissors charge as they were found in the defendant's pocket and he said he had them for cutting tags off items in shops.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case to Friday April 28 so a presentence report can be prepared and remanded him in custody.

He said "It is extremely likely that you will be dealt with by way of a custodial sentence."

ends 3/4/17