COURT: A thief who assaulted three police officers was handed a seven-week suspended prison sentence by Swindon magistrates.

The bench heard Michael Douglas, 32, of Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill, stole £101 of booze from Star World on April 27 and assaulted a man before attacking the officers.

He was on a community order made just over a month before following convictions for causing criminal damage and possession of a bladed article.

Douglas admitted all five charges. He was told the sentence, suspended for a year, was being imposed because of his wilful and persistent failure to comply with the community order and he was a persistent offender.

The magistrates instructed him to undergo drug treatment for six months and up to 35 rehabilitation days. He was also told to pay £200 in victim surcharge and prosecution costs.

COURT: James Collier was ordered to pay a total of £1,160 by Swindon magistrates after he was found guilty of assaulting a woman.

The defendant, 48, was fined £600 and told to pay prosecution costs of £500 along with a £60 contribution towards victim services.