A MAN who assaulted a shop manager after being caught shoplifting is on a revolving door of offending because of his long-term drug addiction, a court heard this week.

Robert James Gillespie, 46, of Tudor Walk, Walcot, appeared before magistrates in Swindon on Wednesday for sentencing, having earlier pleaded guilty to theft and assault charges.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger told the court that Gillespie had kicked out at the deputy manager of the Co-op shop in Cricklade Street, Swindon, who caught him outside with seven jars of coffee he had not paid for.

Gillespie had 82 previous theft-related convictions, Mr Ballinger said.

A probation officer reported to the court that Gillespie was currently on post-sentence supervision for assaulting a police officer. He did attend his probation appointments but not those with CGL, the drug and alcohol service.

He had been addicted to heroin and crack cocaine for 13 years but had not had a drink for two years. He admitted stealing the coffee but said it was for food not drugs.

Richard Williams, defending, said one of Gillespie’s difficulties was his long-term addiction to Class A drugs. He was on a revolving door of offending.

Gillespie’s drug use was now one bag of heroin a day and one bag of crack cocaine, greatly reduced from a few months ago, and there was a glimmer of hope that he had been attending his probation appointments, Mr Williams said.

The magistrates sentenced Gillespie to four weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered him to attend 20 rehabilitation activity days with probation and to engage with CGL.

He was prohibited from entering the Co-op shop in Cricklade Road for 12 months and ordered to pay the Co-op £35 compensation for the stolen coffee.

He was also ordered to pay £50 to the Co-op manager for the assault plus a victim surcharge of £115 and £85 court costs.