A YOUNG man made homeless because of a difficult relationship with his step-father has been given one last chance to stay out of prison by magistrates in Swindon.

Patrick Aaron Cunnington, 20, of Shrivenham Road, pleaded guilty to two burglaries, one assault and one charge of shoplifting when he appeared before the magistrates.

Prosecutor Pauline Lambert told the court that Cunnington had hit his younger brother in the face on June 24 because he thought his brother was going to report him to the police.

Three days earlier Cunnington had stolen bottles of spirits from the Co-op in Old Town, claiming he had been forced to do so by people he was afraid of.

On June 20 Cunnington entered a house his brother was looking after while the occupants were on holiday and slept in a bedroom.

On May 12 Cunnington had broken into a bike store and stolen a £400 bicycle which he later advertised for sale on Facebook.

Gordon Hotson, defending, said life had improved for Cunnington since he had been staying with a friend and he had the opportunity to do some painting and decorating work.

“Hopefully the family will get back to being a family,” Mr Hotson said.

A report by the probation service found that Cunnington had been made homeless due to a difficult relationship with his step-father.

He had very little support from friends or family and had stolen because he had been told to by people he was scared of and because he needed food.

He had, however, recently received a lot of support from another family, more so than his own family.

Chairman of the bench, Natalie O’Connell, outlined to Cunnington that he had committed two burglaries, stolen a bike, had gone into someone else’s house, punched his brother in the head and stolen from the Co-op – all crimes the magistrates took very seriously.

“However, you have been taken in by another family and that is an opportunity you have to take advantage of,” Mrs O’Connell told him.

“You have the opportunity to make a go of things so we are going to give you a last chance.”

Cunnington was sentenced to a community order for 18 months to include a total of 260 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days. He was ordered to pay compensation of £46.99 to the Co-op.